Lady Pirates bow out at district

POMEROY–The Pomeroy Pirate Girls Basketball team suffered from low-scoring second halves in two losses in the SE1B Girls District Tournament, falling 44-25 to Sunnyside Christian on Feb. 7, then being bounced from further post-season play by Liberty Christian 59-31 on Feb. 9.

The Lady Pirates finished the season at 5-13.

"We have struggled in the second half of games," commented Head Coach Brian Koller. The Lady Bucanneers scored five points in the second half in the tournament opener versus Sunnyside Christian, and the lid went on the hoop for no score in the third quarter against Liberty Christian in the loser-out round.

Koller expressed pride in the team. "They fought hard and were committed to what the coaches were teaching them," Koller said. "They had some stretches where they played pretty good basketball and then some not so good stretches."

Seniors Haliee Brewer and Hannah Bagby will be missed, Koller added. "They are tremendous gals with very bright futures in whatever they decide to do. They played their hearts out and gave everything they could. They were outstanding leaders of our team."

Against Liberty Christian in the consolation bracket, Pomeroy and the Lady Patriots were tied 26-26 at half time, then the wheels came off for Pomeroy with no points in the third and five in the fourth.

The Pirates were paced by Taylor Gilbert's 10 points, and Kiersten Bartles added eight.

The story was similar at Sunnyside, where the Lady Knights rolled up a 17-12 lead in the first quarter, and the Lady Pirates trailed by only seven points, 27-20 at the break. Again, second-half breakdowns for Pomeroy were devastating as Sunnyside Christian cruised to a win.

Brewer led the Lady Pirates with 12 points and Taylor Gilbert added nine.

Liberty 59, Pomeroy 31 (2/9)

Pom 15 11 0 5-31

LC 8 18 18 15-59

Pomeroy (5-12, 2-9) Haliee Brewer 2 0-2 4, Kendyll Potoschnik 1 0-0 2, Sadie Klaveano 1 0-2 2, Taylor Gilbert 4 1-2 10, Kiersten Bartels 3 0-2 8, Molly Warren 1 0-0 3, Hannah Bagby 0 2-2 2. Totals: 12 3-10 31.

Liberty Christian (9-12, 8-6) Jaidyn Davis 2 0-0 4, Camas Van Hollebeke 2 1-2 6, Inger Olsson 2 1-2 7, Ali Bush 3 3-4 11, Catherine Lindsay 1 3-4 6, Megan Metzger 3 2-2 10, Calista Davis 3 9-12 15, Rachel Rahoen 1 0-0 2. Totals" 17 19-26 59.

Three-point goals: Pomeroy-Bartles 2, Gilbert, Warren. LC-Bush 2, Metzger 2, Lindsay Van Hollebeke.

Sunnyside 44, Pomeroy 25 (2/7)

Pom 12 8 2 3-25

SSC 17 10 15 2-44

Pomeroy (5-11) Haliee Brewer 5 2-4 12, Kendyll Potoschnik 1 0-0 2, Taylor Gilbert 4 0-0 9, Hannah Bagby 1 0-0 2. Totals 11 2-4 25.

Sunnyside Christian (19-2) Natalie Deboer 4 2-2 14, Devan Harrington 4 2-2 10, Addie Smeenk 0 1-2 1, Haley VanWieringen 8 0-0 19. Totals 16 5-6 44.

Three-point goals: Pomeroy-Gilbert. SSC-Deboer 4, VanWieringen 3.