Strong second half not enough for juniors

It was 16 minutes of some of the best basketball the Muskie junior girls’ squad had played all season.
Now, about that first 16 . . .
“Everything they shot was going in and everything we shot didn’t,” summarized first-year guard Mackenzie Caul after the Muskies’ 54-29 loss to the host Kenora Broncos last Thursday to drop their NorWOSSA record to 0-4.
“We dominated most of the second half, though,” added Caul. “If we keep playing like we did in that half, we’ll certainly be more competitive.”
“It was our lack of rebounding that hurt us,” chimed in first-year forward Alyssa Holliday. “We were giving them too many second-chance opportunities.
“And when we got our shots, we just couldn’t get it through the rim.”
The Muskies, who were guided for this game by senior girls’ coach Mike Busch because of the absence of regular coach Michelle Mosbeck (work commitments), took solace in the emergence of forward Janelle Williamson, who netted 16 points in her best game of the season.
< *c>Seniors squeak by
In senior girls’ action, Fort High struggled to find their game against a determined Broncos’ squad, but were boosted by two new starters in their 31-23 win over Kenora to up their league-leading record to 4-0.
First-year post Laura Busch and rookie point guard Rebecca Cornell made the most of their first senior starts, with Busch netting 10 points to pace the Muskies while Cornell added nine.
But the seniors will be put to the test in their next match tomorrow in Dryden as Cornell, along with starting forward and team scoring leader Carley McCormick, won’t make the trip (university appointments).
First-year post Jodi Caul (illness) and rookie guard Ashlyn Jewell (personal) also may be unable to join their teammates, leaving the Muskies with only seven players to face the Eagles.
The juniors also travel to Dryden tomorrow, then will hold their annual home tournament Oct. 17-18.