RMMS Lady Grizz endure murderer’s row of tough games

The Rocky Mountain Middle School girls basketball season ramped up this week with three contest dates in six days against Lovell, Shoshoni and Riverside.

Playing in Lovell Thursday, the RMMS A team took it on the chin 45-13, then fared little better at home Friday, falling to Shoshoni 40-15.

“Both teams played an aggressive style of defense, which forced us out of our offensive stuff,” coach Taylor Winland said. “Lovell and Shoshoni both shot the ball really well, so credit to them.”

It was tough sledding at Lovell Thursday as the Lady Grizz trailed 17-2 after the first quarter and had difficulty scoring the basketball. Sawyer Bassett led Rocky with 8 points, and Taylor Grandalen added 5 in the 45-13 loss. Brynnlee Spanier scored 17 to lead Lovell.

The offense continued to struggle Saturday against Shoshoni as the Lady Grizz were outscored in all four quarters, though Bassett broke into double figures for the home team with 11 points. Elizabeth Ganoung and Daizy Weinand scored 2 points each.

It was a different story at home against Riverside Tuesday as the Lady Grizz clobbered visiting Riverside in the A game 37-19, outscoring the Rebels 6-0, 10-4, 9-7 and 12-8 in the four quarters.

Bassett led the home team in scoring with 17 points, and Grandalen added 14 points, Ganoung 4 and Tianna Christiansen 2.

“This was a great game for us. We were able to execute offensively, and we locked them down defensively,” Winland said. “Our focus this game was to box out and get back on defense, and we did both of those.”

B team

The Rocky Mountain B team fell to the Lovell seventh grade A team 42-13 Thursday in Lovell and to the Shoshoni B team at home Saturday, 29-19.

Christiansen led the Lady Grizz with 7 points at Lovell, and Kinli Bitton added 4 points, Kielley Brimhall 2.

Rocky led Shoshoni 10-9 at halftime Saturday, but a 16-1 third-quarter advantage by the visitors in the third quarter spelled doom for the home team. Christiansen finished with 13 points, Bitton 6.

Tuesday in Cowley, the Riverside B team edged Rocky 18-15 in a close, hard fought contest. Christiansen scored 9 for the Grizz, Kate Crosby 4 and Bitton 2.

C team

The Lovell seventh grade B team edged the Rocky C team Thursday, 15-10, as the Grizz led 8-6 at halftime but were outscored 9-2 in the second half. Lauren Hedges scored 6 points for Rocky Mountain, Bitton 4.

Shoshoni doubled up the Grizzlies 26-13 in the C game Saturday, outscoring the home team 18-6 in the second half. Christiansen scored 10 for RMMS, Crosby 2 and Hedges 1.

The Rocky Mountain C team bounced back to clobber Riverside 22-4 Tuesday at home as Crosby scored 8 points, Hedges 6, Millie Hanusa 4 and Graysin Jolley and Bitton 2 apiece.

“The B and C teams are all improving each game,” Winland said. “The girls are getting more confident and playing team basketball. It is fun as a coaching staff to see each of them grow individually and as a team.

“Both teams played aggressive against Riverside and are getting better each game. We are gearing up for a busy week of games.”

The Lady Grizz travel to Powell today (Thursday) for a trio of games starting at 4:15 p.m., then host Burlington Friday at 2 p.m. and Thermopolis Saturday at 10 a.m. The busy stretch concludes Monday with three games at Greybull starting at 4:15 p.m.