The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Lady Raider Basketball is at a crossroads after losing two of the last three games.

Against Okanogan Jan. 13 at Okanogan, the Lady Raiders struggled against a sluggish Bulldog team. Okanogan jumped out to a big 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second the Bulldogs scored only 10 points, but LR failed to score a basket during the quarter.

The Lady Raiders restarted their offense in the second half, but it was too little, too late. Okanogan defeated the Lake Roosevelt 67-26.

Coming home on Thursday, the Lady Raiders looked to rebound against Liberty Bell. LR and Liberty Bell stayed close in the first quarter and exchanged hot streaks in the second, but Liberty Bell took the lead temporarily. LR regained the lead and the score at half was LR 26-LB 24.

In the second half, the Lake Roosevelt built a lead and held onto it for a 48-39 win.

Hoping to start a win streak, the Lady Raiders hosted the Pateros Nannies Jan. 17 in Grand Coulee. The Nannies took the lead and never looked back. LR could not find any answers to the Nannies' attack. The final was Pateros 60-LR 31.

Head Coach Wallace Pleasants was frustrated after the loss to Pateros.

"Four of the last five games, we have shot under 30 percent with many misses on uncontested layups and jump shots," he noted. He said the offense has been simplified and, "I'm at a loss on what we can do different."

Looking to this week, Pleasants was hopeful that the team could turn it around against Oroville, Liberty Bell, and Bridgeport.

Last night the Lady Raiders were scheduled to take on the number-two Oroville Hornets at Oroville. Tomorrow, LR travels to Liberty Bell for a 6 p.m. matchup with the Mt. Lions. Then on Saturday the Lady Raiders hit the road again for a 4 p.m. game against the last-place Fillies at Bridgeport.

At Okanogan

1 2 3 4 Final

LR 6 0 13 7 26

OK 22 10 15 20 67

Riley Epperson 2, Alana Epperson 11, Sam 0, Moore 2, St. Pierre 0, Priest 0, Bearcub 3, Ensminger 0, Wilson 0, Schilling 8

Vs. Liberty Bell

1 2 3 4 Final

LR 16 10 13 9 48

LB 12 12 6 9 39

Riley Epperson 2, Alana Epperson 2, Ensminger 2, Sam 0, Priest 5, St. Pierre 4, Moore 10, Bearcub 7, Schilling 16