Lady Raiders in third despite free-throw "bugaboo"

The Lady Raiders were unable to pull off a comeback against Tonasket last Tuesday, lost a non-league game against Omak Thursday, then dominated Bridgeport on Saturday to go 10-4 in the league.

In Tonasket last Tuesday, the Lady Raiders tried to make a comeback against the Tonasket Tigers, but things just didn't work out, with LR losing 59-54.

"We'd get within two, then they'd make a three," lamented Kayla St. Pierre.

"It was one of those games when the ball just seemed to bounce their way," said LR Head Coach Wallace Pleasants. "That was another game where if we made more free throws we could have won. We shot like 33 percent from the free-throw line. Right now, that's turning out to be our bugaboo."

Playing to a large crowd on Thursday against the Omak Lady Pioneers, the Lady Raiders, at one point down by 21, made a comeback. With Lake Roosevelt down by three with only two minutes left in the game, their comeback fizzled, and Omak won 59-51.

Free throws again played a role in the loss. "We're getting better defensively, we can score on anybody; it's just getting our free throws to fall down," Pleasants said afterward. The Lady Raiders shot 17 of 32 from the free-throw line, just over 50 percent.

"I was proud of the way the girls fought back and gave us a chance to win," Pleasants added.

On Saturday, the Ladies traveled to Bridgeport, where they stuck it to the Fillies, 55-32.

The win puts the Ladies at 10-4 in the league for third place. The Ladies will move onto the playoffs, and if they keep their third-place spot or above will secure a home game in the playoffs. Liberty Bell, also 10-4, is competing for third place.

The Lady Raiders' next game is in Waterville Feb. 2 against the 4-10 Waterville Lady Shockers. They'll play their final game of the regular season Feb. 4 in Soap Lake to take on the 3-10 Lady Eagles, making up for a game canceled due to icy road conditions Jan. 19.

Tonasket

Reyes 2, Boyd 14, Adolph 4, Dick 2, St. Pierre 17, Olbright 7, Pakootas 4, Priest 4

Omak

Boyd 10, Adolph 12, Dick 6, St. Pierre 15, Olbright 4, Pakootas 4

Bridgeport

Reyes 4, Boyd 10, Adolph 2, Dick 8, St. Pierre 15, Olbright 7, Pakootas 1, Priest 8