Lady Grizz start hoops season with trio of road dates

It didn’t take the Rocky Mountain Middle School girls basketball team long to ramp up after the fall volleyball season ended. Practice began just two days after the conference tournaments on October 11, and a full slate of games were played over the weekend and early this week with games Thursday in Burlington, Saturday in Thermopolis and Monday in Ten Sleep.

The young Rocky Mountain A team, consisting of three eighth graders and six seventh graders, has started the season 1-2, falling to Burlington 27-19 and Thermopolis 26-20, then beating Ten Sleep 35-8.

The Lady Grizzlies were a little slow getting going at Burlington Thursday, trailing 8-0 after the first quarter, but they outscored the home team 14-7 in the second quarter to trail just 15-14 at halftime. Burlington won the second half 12-5, however, to win the game.

Taylor Grandalen led the Lady Grizz with 10 points, and Presli Moss added 3 points, Raelyn Reculusa, Kate Crosby and Tianna Christiansen 2 apiece.

The A team suffered another slow start at Thermop Saturday, trailing 16-6 at halftime before outscoring the home team 14-10 in the second half in the 26-20 loss. Keilley Brimhall scored 9 points for the Grizz, Reculusa 4, Grandalen 3, Elle Ganoung and Christiansen 2 apiece.

It was a far different story at Ten Sleep Monday as the Lady Grizz outscored the home team 20-4 in the second quarter on their way to a 35-8 win. Grandalen poured in 16 points, Christiansen 12, and Kaylie Watts, Reculusa and Ganoung added 2 points each, Crosby 1.

“Our season is off to a great start, and I’m really proud of how our girls are coming together,” head coach Taylor Winland said. “We had two tough games to start out, but the girls never gave up and kept working hard. We’ve got 20 girls on the team this year (A, B and C), and it’s been awesome to see their willingness to work. I’m excited to see what the rest of the season brings.”

B team

The Rocky B team fell to Burlington 24-17 but edged Thermop 14-11 and clobbered Ten Sleep 36-3.

The Lady Grizz were tied with Thermopolis 8-8 at halftime but were outscored 16-9 in the second half. Moss led Rocky with 10 points, and Josie Loyning added 4 points, Crosby 3.

Rocky was tied with Thermop 8-8 after three quarters Saturday but outscored the home team 6-3 in the final quarter. Loyning scored 6 points, Crosby 4, Millie Hanusa and Paisley Malson 2 apiece.

The B team overpowered Ten Sleep, leading 22-1 at halftime and winning the second half 14-2 en route to the 36-3 win. Loyning scored 14 points, Lauren Hedges 8, Crosby and Malson 6 each, Alexis Clark 2.

C team

The Grizzly C team went 2-0, beating Burlington 30-16 and Thermop 34-3. Loyning poured in 19 points against Burlington, and Paizlee Fisher added 6 points, Ava Weierman 3 and Collins Hubbell 2.

In the Thermop game, Loyning scored 20 points, and Fisher added 6, Hubbell, Penelope Wambeke, Adrianna DeLaCruz and Katalina Hetland 2 apiece.

“Our basketball season is off to a strong start,” coach Madison Grandalen said. “Everyone has contributed, whether it’s through defense, communication or hustle. We are excited to keep growing stronger as a team each day and improve our skills. I am excited to watch the girls push one another so we can reach our full potential.”

The Lady Grizzlies are off this weekend but will travel to Meeteetse Tuesday for two games starting at 4:15 p.m. Their first home date is Monday, Nov. 10, at 4:15 p.m. when they host Greybull for three games.