Tough weekend for Lady Pirates

SUNNYSIDE–Rallying from a 13-0 first-quarter deficit, the Lady Pirates engineered a momentum swing to trail Sunnyside Christian by only six points at half time, held them with tough defense in the third but faded in the stretch, giving up a 38-27 non-conference game here Saturday. The night before, Colton handed the Lady Buccaneers a 56-26 loss at home.

Pomeroy is now 2-1 in league play, 2-3 overall, and played in a two-day Christmas Tournament in Moses Lake earlier this week prior to breaking for Christmas. On December 29, Dayton-Waitsburg comes to town for a non-conference game.

"We came back with a great run in the first half and we had a massive momentum shift after being down 13-0," said Head Coach Tai Bye. "We held Sunnyside to eight points in the second and third quarters. Our girls played phenomenal, tough defense."

The wheels came off when senior guard Jillian Herres left the game with five fouls in the fourth quarter. "It hurt us offensively," Bye said, "but we played a tight game to the very end."

In spite of the final score, Bye was encouraged by what she saw. "This was the first game I've seen them play as a complete unit," she said. "Taylor Gilbert had an incredible game off the bench. She took a leadership role and worked hard."

Herres played a solid game and finished with 10 points and three rebounds, Bye said.

"Jillian adjusted well to their tight defense on her," Bye said, "and became a strong playmaker.

"I'm proud of them, even though a loss," she said. "This group will continue to build and add some numbers in that left column."

Colton visited the home court Friday night and stung the Lady Pirates with a 56-26 defeat.

"This was a tough loss for us," Bye said. "Colton is always a hard team to play; when they're hot behind the arc, they're tough to guard. We did some good things tonight, but we didn't put all the pieces together."

Lady Wildcat Grace Kuhle swished five three pointers to lead Colton with 25 points, and her teammates Sidni Whitcomb, with two, and Holly Heitstuman and Kendra Stout rounded out the nine trey night.

Herres was Pomeroy's leading scorer with nine and Kiersten Bartles scored six.

Sunnyside Christian 38, Pomeroy 27 (12/17)

SSC 17 4 4 13-38

Pom 7 8 6 6-27

SC (38) Violet Bosma 1-4 0-0 2, Devan Harrington 1-4 2-4 4, Sadie Alseth 1-2 0-0 2, Piper Clapp 0-1 0-0 0. Tayler Andringa 6-13 2-4 16, Victoria Valazquez 1-1 0-1 2, Halie VanWeirmgon 3-5 0-1 6, Breya Fobr 2-7 2-4 6. 

Pomeroy (27) Jillian Herres 3-12 4-4 10, Chase Caruso 0-9 2-2 2, Hannah Bagby 0-0 1-2 1, Kiersten Bartles 2-6 0-0 5, Haliee Brewer 1-3 0-0 2, Taylor Gilbert 0-3 2-2 2, Kendall Dixon 2-6 0-0 5.

3 Point Goals –SC: Andringa 2. Pomeroy: Bartels, Dixon Fouls: SC(16), Pomeroy (18) Fouled Out: Herres, Dixon. Technical Fouls: None. Rebounds: Gilbert 5. Pomeroy Rebounds: Team (21) Turnovers: Pomeroy (19) Assists: Pomeroy (2).

Colton 56, Pomeroy 26 (12/16)

Colt 17 18 9 12-56

Pom 3 8 5 10-26

Pomeroy (26) Jillian Herres 3-16 2-2 9, Chase Caruso 1-10 0-0 2, Hannah Bagby 1-6 1-3 3, Kiersten Bartles 2-8 1-2 6, Haliee Brewer 1-8 0-0 2, Taylor Gilbert 1-6 0-0 2, Kendall Dixon 1-7 0-0 2, Jadence Gingerich 1-6 0-0 2.

Colton (56) Grace Kuhle 9-20 2-10 25, Holly Heitstuman 2-4 0-0 5, Kendra Stout 3-13 3-4 10, Ella Nollmeyer 1-2 0-1 2, Kaydee Heitstuman 0-6 2-3 2, Claire Moehrle 1-1 0-0 2, Sidni Whitcomb 3-4 2-4 10.

3 Point Goals – Colton: Kuhle 5, H. Heitstuman, Stout, Whitcomb 2. Pomeroy: Herres, Bartels. Fouls: Colton (15), Pomeroy (20). Fouled Out: Caruso. Technical Fouls: None. Rebounds: Herres 4. Pomeroy Rebounds: Team (19). Turnovers: Pomeroy (16). Assists: Pomeroy (5).