West Valley, Pullman knock off Lady Blackhawks

A pair of losses last week left the Cheney High girls' basketball team searching for its first Great Northern League win of the season. The Lady Blackhawks dropped home games to West Valley and Pullman, falling 37-26 to the Eagles last Tuesday and 53-35 to the Greyhounds Friday.

Neither Cheney nor West Valley lit up the scoring column Tuesday night. The Lady Blackhawks only double-digit quarter came in a 10-point first period, giving them a four-point lead. After that though, Cheney was outscored 31-16 in taking the loss.

Kendyl Cone was the only Lady Blackhawk in double figures with 10 points, adding nine rebounds. West Valley's Rachel McGlothlen led all scorers with 14 points while teammate Erin Higbie added 10 to go with 12 rebounds.

Cheney never led Friday against the visiting Greyhounds. Pullman opened with a 5-0 run, which the Lady Blackhawks cut to one with baskets by Kayla Lemelin and Hailee Huff, but it was as close as they would get.

Cheney trailed 53-26 with just under two minutes remaining, but cut the final margin to 21 on three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Brette Draper. The Lady Blackhawks were hurt by a lack of rebounding, especially on the defensive end as Pullman extended many possessions through good offensive rebounding.

Savannah Paul led all scorers with 17 points while her Pullman teammate Emily Drake added 10. Both players hauled down 12 rebounds apiece.

Cone led Cheney in scoring with eight points, followed by Draper with six and Hannah Lemelin with five.

Cheney falls to 0-8 in league play and 5-11 overall with four games remaining in the regular season. The Lady Blackhawks began their final go around in GNL play by hosting fourth-place Clarkston Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Cheney hits the road this weekend to face league-leading East Valley Friday night, and third-place West Valley Saturday night. The Lady Blackhawks wrap up the regular season Tuesday, Feb. 3, by hosting second-place Pullman.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].