Amazing Humans

The Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) Lady Miner won their pigtail against Guernsey/Sunrise Lady Vikings on February 22, 46-16, in a game which showed the Lady Miners deserved to go to the 1A East Regional Tournament.

Their first game on February 25 was against the No. 1 Northeast Upton Lady Bobcats. The Lady Miners’ six players did their best and played their hearts out according to Head Coach Jackie Jones, but came up short against this powerful team. The Lady Miners lost 62-19.

The second game that day, the Lady Miners did better against the Arvada-Clearmont Panthers. It was a tight game and it looked like HEM would win before the Lady Panthers scored in the last seconds to send the game into overtime. The Lady Miners didn’t buckle under the pressure of having to continue the game and won 35-30.

On February 26 HEM faced the Kaycee Lady Buckaroos. The Lady Buckaroos were the last team the Lady Miners played in the regular season. It had been a defensive battle where Kaycee won 26-11. This game the Lady Miners put up double the points but the Lady Buckaroos also increased their output. Kaycee won, 45-24.

The season for the Lady Miners was over. Jones was not disappointed in how her team did this year. In fact she was extremely proud of her group of girls.

“The way this team grew and developed over the season not only as a basketball team but as human beings ... pales in comparison to how they have developed as young adults,” Jones said. “I watched them before games, during games, after games and saw what they do for each other and other people have shown me they all have so much character.”

Jones said the girls also had a great sense of humor. Because she was short of managers, she took two players from the boys team to do that job. Dylan Romero and Kyler Proffit told the girls if they won a basketball game at regionals, the girls could put them in makeup.

“Maybe most people won’t think much of that story, but for that group of kids to bond the way they did this season, both the boys and girls teams are pretty inseparable right now,” Jones said. “As a coach and educator, how can’t you take pride in this? I feel blessed to have been able to be around these girls.”

She has praise for all the girls, with seniors Rainey Wilson and T’lyssa Solaas being on her mind especially.

“What Rainey has done for HEM athletics is highly commendable,” Jones said. “Rainey pours her heart when playing and when sometimes the other girls would get down, she keeps fighting and inspires the others. She is a fighter, that is her M.O. in life. I’ve said it before, Rainey is the smallest post player out there. She had 15 rebounds against Kaycee.”

Solaas came to the Lady Miners from the wrestling team and Jones said she was glad Solaas did.

“Her work ethic and her attitude that she brings to our athletic program was awesome,” Jones said. “She is a leader at HEM and we were lucky she made the decision to come play basketball. We were that much better because of her presence.”

“This team was a group of amazing human beings,” Jones said. “I am sad it’s over but I am not sad how it ended. I could not have been prouder to coach this group.”