The rust is coming off the Miners

Miner basketball has good showing over weekend

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) basketball teams got a chance to play several times this week after an extended break.

Rock River

The Lady Miners were undefeated coming into the game against the Lady Longhorns and jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first minutes of the home game on January 21. Rock River responded with a 3-pointer and HEM immediately scored two points making it 7-3. It looked like the Lady Miners had the game in control as they went into half time 23-12. The second half did not go so well. Rock River came on strong with 3-pointers, hitting a total of eight and, by the end of the game, Rock River was ahead 40-33."They hit some big shots from the outside," Head Coach Jackie Jones said. "And we were not sharp defensively. After the game, the girls said it themselves. We will fix it at practice."

J. Jones did acknowledge Amy Campbell had a great game making 25 of the 33 points.

The Miners basketball team took control early and never looked back against the Longhorns. Head Coach Cliff Jones started rotating players the second half to give all the players time on the court since, at halftime, the score was 42-19.

"We got to put in lot of different players," C. Jones said. "This is only our eighth game and we still have to find our rhythm."

Junior Taylor Widdison said the team keeps getting stronger as the team gets more time together, whether it is practice or a game.

"Some of us have been playing together since we were in junior high and we know each other well," Widdison said. "Then we have had some new players come on the team and it makes a new chemistry as they come into our system. All the guys really support each other.

"The support showed as the Miners won 67-31.

Glendo

HEM went to Glendo on Friday. Both the girls and boys teams took care of business. Both coaches said the Glendo teams were young and still pulling themselves together. The Lady Miners won 43-6 and the Miners won 55-9.

"Glendo was an opportunity to play all our kids," C. Jones said.

Guernsey-Sunrise

On Saturday, HEM got another chance for all their players get some time on the floor.

The Lady Miners scored 12 points before Guernsey got on the board. The Lady Vikings played hard but they never got close. The score ended with HEM ahead 49-12.

"We were able to give all the girls opportunity to play," J. Jones said. "We concentrate on defense no matter the team."

The team had more balanced scoring by all the players and J. Jones was impressed with freshman Jacque Nelsen off the bench and sophomore T'lyssa Solaas, who played aggressively.

"I am getting a little better, but that is because the team all works together," Solaas said. "There isn't any instance where we get mad at each other and, if someone is off, we help encourage them. Win or lose, I love being on this team."

The Miners took on a strong Viking team, but it was HEM in control the entire first half. Going into halftime, the score was 32-12. C. Jones put in different combinations of players and although the Vikings would have some runs, the score ended 62-42. Devon Grosstick hit five 3-pointers.

"The past two games have had us have some good looks," C. Jones said. "We just need to have confidence to play like this all the time and get into a system."

The Bettencourt brothers recently joined the team and have had to learn the HEM system. The three have experience playing in California.

Nate, the senior, said it was a little difficult in the beginning to adjust.

"It was a little bumpy at first because we had to get used to everybody and build a chemistry because our type of game play was different," Nate said. "We were used to that bigger school, fast paced ball and we have had to slow it down a little bit."

"Also adjusting to a different coach doesn't make it easy," Gabe, the junior, said. "It all just takes time and listening."

Jusiah, the freshman, has been seeing court time along with his brothers.

"He carries himself well," complimented Nate.

All brothers agreed the Miner players had been embracing.

"The team is terrific," Nate said. "I love all the guys. We play hard and we play good basketball. They were really accepting of us."

The next game is on January 31 against Encampment in Encampment.

 

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