Lady Raiders increase wins by two

After beating Brewster by nine points at home and dominating Manson 78-12 last week, the Lady Raiders stood at second in the league Tuesday night before meeting Okanogan at the home of the Lady Bulldogs, the Central Washington 2B League leaders.

The Okanogan girls, with a 7-0 win-loss record in league and 16-0 overall, may have felt secure going into that game against Lake Roosevelt (5-2, 11-6), with ample reason.

Okanogan won 91 – 48.

LR started out strong, scoring 34 in the first half, but couldn’t execute in the second, Coach Melissa Meza said. “We are chalking this one up as a learning experience, and we will continue to work on ways to improve so we are better prepared for post-season.”

Meza said the Lady Raiders had been working hard in the gym building skills on weekends, so they “came out strong and prepared against Brewster” in Coulee Dam Jan. 17. Carley Neddo put in nine points in the first quarter and finished with 16.

Cylia St. Pierre put in 17 during the game, including nine in the first quarter.

The girls focused during their press and played tough defense against Brewster’s post player, holding her to four points. She’d scored 23 against LR in December.

“I’m proud of the way the girls handled themselves,” Meza said. “They didn’t give up their 10-point lead through the game, and that’s the discipline we strive for and work at every day in practice.”

Many Lady Raiders got to score against Manson in the lopsided win there on Friday. St. Pierre led LR’s girls in scoring with 24, followed by Aaliyah Marchand’s 18 and Neddo’s 17.

The game saw LR players “push the ball up the court and move our feet on defense,” Meza noted.

“The girls play with Raider Nation Heart and at the end of the day that’s all that matters!” she said.

Coming up, the Lady Raiders are set to meet the Liberty Bell Mountain Lions in the Methow Friday night, then host Tonasket (11-5, 3-4) Jan. 31.