Learning from loss

The weather this past week did the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Lady Miner basketball team no favors as practice after practice had to be canceled during the week before they played two tough teams in the Rock River Lady Longhorns on Friday and then the Encampment Lady Tigers on Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Lady Miners, they lost both contests.

Head coach Jackie Jones knew coming off the holiday break was not going to be easy for her team, but she didn't expect almost all practices to get canceled by the wind and snowy weather.

"The girls continue to fight and work hard, but we are struggling to find the basket consistently," Jones said. "We were coming back together after the break and then a week of canceled practices."

The game against the Rock River Lady Longhorns had the smaller Lady Miners fight against a taller team and that has some depth. The lack of being together for several weeks took its toll as the Lady Miners lost 41-25.

The next game on Saturday the Lady Miners played much stronger against the Encampment Lady Tigers staying close throughout the game until the minutes of the game. Going into the 4th quarter the game was still up for grabs, but in about the last five minutes  when the score was only a six point difference, the Lady Tigers made a run that crushed the Lady Miners. Encampment won the game 47-25.

Jones knows playing two good teams make the Lady Miners stronger and is glad for the experience in the early season, even if the result ended in losses. Still she is hopeful the weather will be kinder this week so she can get in some practices as she faces more strong competition this week.

The next game for the Lady Miners will be against Saratoga's Lady Panthers on January 13 in Saratoga.