Muskie hoopsters win third-straight

After a slow start to the season, both Muskie girls’ basketball teams are now riding three-game winning streaks.
The senior girls edged the visiting Dryden Eagles yesterday afternoon by a 26-22 margin, but the score could have been much more lopsided, said Carley McCormick.
“We are used to being a high-scoring team, but coach [Mike Busch] doesn’t like running up scores, so when we get to be about 10 points ahead, he’ll put some of the players that don’t necessarily get to play all the time,” said McCormick, who led the way with 11 points.
Rebecca Cornell was the next leading scorer with seven.
After opening the season with a loss, then having their second game postponed due to a scheduling mix-up, the senior now sit with a 3-1 record and are starting to play the way they expected.
Still, Busch said the team has plenty to work on.
“The girls are getting more confident, which helps, and you can see that when they play, but still our leaders have to be leaders,” he remarked.
“If you look at where we shoot from, we have twice the opportunities than the other team have in attempts,” he noted. “We have to start putting them in.
“We’re taking shots from good areas, we’re in that 12-foot range, that’s where we want to be, but they have to drop, and they will.
“When you keep shooting that many shots from that close, you’re going to start making baskets,” Busch reasoned.
Meanwhile, the juniors (3-2) also made it three win in a row yesterday after an 0-2 start to the season with a convincing 38-31 win over the visiting Eagles.
Alyssa Holliday netted 15 points while Michelle Cournoyer added 13 to lead the black-and-gold.
“Michelle and Alyssa are starting to click together a little more, and same with Jessica [Woodgate],” noted head coach Michelle Mosbeck.
“They’re starting to see and communicate better on the court, and they’re starting to see the open lanes,” she added. “They’re taking their time on their shots and they are starting to go in, and it’s nice to see.”
The team’s hard work in practice is starting to show up in the win column.
“The girls are just working really hard and we have a lot of depth on the bench,” said Mosbeck. “They’re taking more time when they’re under boards to take decent shots and sometimes they don’t go in for a bit, but they’re starting to sink more.”
Both teams resume NorWOSSA action here next Thursday (Oct. 21) when the Kenora Broncos visit the “Fish Tank.”