Muskie hoopsters lose in Kenora

One good quarter of play does not a basketball game make—especially if you plan on winning the game.
The Muskie senior girls’ basketball team struggled mightily at the offensive end for three quarters against the host Kenora Broncos, scoring just seven points in that time en route to a 24-17 loss in NorWOSSA action last Thursday.
The score would have been even more lopsided in favour of the Broncos had it not been for a solid fourth quarter by the black-and-gold.
Forward Alyssa Holliday did her best to rally Fort High in the final frame, scoring 10 points. But it wasn’t enough as the Muskie comeback attempt ultimately fell short.
Afterwards, coach Marla Knutsen was disappointed with her team performance, especially during the first three quarters.
“The first half was brutal,” she said.
“We didn’t show up until the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter everybody finally pulled up their socks,” she added.
“If they’d played how they did in the fourth quarter the whole game, they’d have won.”
Holliday was the leading Muskie scorer with 12 points despite the fact she sat out both the second and third quarters due to foul trouble.
The loss dropped the senior girls’ record to 1-3 in NorWOSSA play.
< *c>Juniors lose first of year
Meanwhile, it was a tale of two halves for the Muskie junior girls’ basketball team, which suffered its first loss of the season last Thursday in Kenora.
The Muskies played smart basketball in the first half—passing the ball effectively and squaring up on their shot opportunities en route to a 15-7 halftime lead.
But they couldn’t finish the Broncos off, managing just four points in the third quarter and a meagre two in the fourth.
Kenora, meanwhile, found their scoring touch and rallied back for the eventual 21-19 victory.
Afterwards, Muskie head coach Dan Bird lamented the inconsistent performance.
“They played well in the first half but they didn’t continue to do what they were doing,” he said.
“They weren’t squaring up to shoot and were hurrying their shots [in the second half].”
Also of concern to Bird was the Muskies’ poor showing on the boards.
He said his players failed to put themselves in good rebounding positions at both ends of the floor—something he vowed to correct in practice this week.
Taylor Meyers led the Muskies offensively, scoring nine points before fouling out early in the fourth quarter.
The junior girls’ team is now 3-1 in league action.
Both squads resume NorWOSSA play tomorrow in Dryden against the Eagles.