Cheney girls drop opening games

While the Cheney girls’ basketball team lost its opening two games of the season

at home, 50-30 to University, Dec. 6 and 49-29 to North Central, Dec. 9, the good news is both were pre-season contests for the Greater Spokane League.

How the Blackhawks improve to when things count will have a pretty good measuring stick. The same teams meet again for the final two games of the regular season in February at U-Hi and NC.

Cheney head coach Ken Ryan assessed the outcomes writing in an email, “We need to play better, bottom line,” and “I need to coach harder and get our team mentally ready for these games.”

Cheney trailed 16-3 after the first quarter and was never able to play catch-up, trailing 26-11 at half time. “U-High was more physical, and they had the will to win,” Ryan said.

Tatum Sloan and Paige Evans each had six points for the Blackhawks.

Friday night, things did not start, nor end well for Cheney. Junior guard Evans was out of the lineup due to injury after just 90 seconds. And the Blackhawks were not able to contain Greta Marko and Hannah Hamilton who each scored 12 points and North Central raced to a 24-10 halftime lead.

“I am very proud of the younger players stepping up,” Ryan said. “We just need to have confidence on the offensive side of the ball, and we will keep practicing that piece.”

Shauna Elliot led Cheney with eight points while Macey Richards had six against North Central.

A game Saturday at home vs. Wenatchee was cancelled due to effects of a storm with efforts underway to possibly reschedule.

Cheney gets a bit busy as they played at home vs. Lewis and Clark Dec. 13, and on the road at Ridgeline Dec. 16 and Shadle, Saturday, Dec. 17 at 12:30 p.m.

Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].