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The Lady Raiders recorded their first two wins of the season at the Tonasket Holiday Tournament, where they took the championship.

“We started to play better defense and played good team ball.” Head Coach Wallace Pleasants said. “The girls passed the ball and the right person had the ball to take a shot; there was a good balance on the floor.”

LR won the first game Dec. 27 over a Tonasket team who had sneaked away with a win two weeks earlier from the Raiders.

The Lady Raiders came out fast, leading Tonasket at halftime, 24-8. In the second half the Tigers came back and outscored the Lady Raiders, but LR’s big lead in the first proved to be the difference for the final score 47- 35.

Lachelle Bearcub led the Lady Raiders with 15 points and recorded another double-double. Alana Epperson scored 12 points and made two three-pointers.

In the tournament championship game the next day, the Lady Raiders faced off with the 1-A Okanogan JV squad, winning 53-33. The Ladies were in control the entire game, holding Frazier to only two points.

Keya FastHorse led LR with 15 points. Lachelle Bearcub scored 13 points and grabbed over 10 rebounds.

After a week of practice the Lady Raiders returned to the court on Jan. 4 against the Waterville Shockers at Waterville. After LR’s sluggish start and early foul trouble, Waterville held on to a lead the entire game.

“The ball handling from the previous week was not there at Waterville,” Pleasants said. “We went back to one pass and hold. Our offense is fluid, with a lot of passing, and holding the ball does not get it done.”

Waterville won 46-40.

Last night’s scheduled game against league-leading White Swan was cancelled due to a snowstorm in Yakima.

The Lady Raiders now have a week to prepare to host Manson Jan. 14 for a 6 p.m. game.

Raider scoring:

vs Tonasket

R. Epperson 8, A. Epperson 12, Picard 0, Adolph 1, Dick 2, FastHorse 4, Wilson 5, Bearcub 15, Moon 0

vs Okanogan JV

R. Epperson 8, A. Epperson 6, Picard 0, Adolph 2, Dick 5, FastHorse 15, Wilson 0, Bearcub 13, Ensminger 2, Moon 2