The challenges keep coming for the Yuma High School girls basketball team.
The Outlaws are 6-3 and No. 11 in the 3A CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index after splitting two games last weekend. They held off a pesky Akron squad last Friday in The Pit, 39-36, then gave Simla all it could handle in a 48-41 loss.
Now Brush comes to town Friday for a 3A Patriot League contest. The Beetdiggers are having one of their better seasons in recent memory, sitting at 8-1 and No. 6 in the Index.
“Brush’s coach (Brush graduate Maddy Rule) has done an amazing job in a short period,” Yuma coach Jeremy Robinson said. “They return a good core from last year and gained a couple freshmen that are contributing.”
The Outlaws then make the trip west to former foe Eaton on Saturday. The Reds are in the 4A Patriot. They entered this week 5-4 and No. 9 in the 4A Index.
“…to turn around and play Eaton at their place, another challenging weekend,” Robinson said.
Plus, the Outlaws have a 3A Patriot game at home against Platte Valley on Tuesday. The Broncos entered this week with an 8-2 record and No. 17 in the 3A Index.
The Outlaws played a pair of salty 2A squads last weekend.
Akron gave them all they could handle before eventually pulling out the 39-36 win. Yuma trailed 16-10 early in the second quarter, eventually tied the game at 19, fell behind 24-19, then rallied to tie it at 24 entering halftime.
It stayed tight throughout the second half. The Outlaws opened up a 36-30 lead in the fourth, but Akron got back to within two, 38-36, with under two minutes left. Only one more point was scored the rest of the game, a Yuma free throw, as the Outlaws escaped.
“We knew Akron was going to be a challenge, they always are when we play them,” Robinson said. “It was nice to get that game.”
Taryn Sheffield made four of seven 3-point attempts, finishing with 15 points and three rebounds. Bailey Nighswonger had eight points and four rebounds, Lauren Gonzales four points and three rebounds, Jade Lungwitz four points and five rebounds, Carolina Ross four points and five rebounds, Berkley Nighswonger two points, eight rebounds and three assists, Laisha Loya two points, and Aubrey Black three rebounds and three assists.
Yuma traveled southwest to Simla on Saturday to take on a Cubs team that has just one loss and is No. 3 in the 2A Index. The Outlaws gave Simla a good push, but fell short in the end, 48-41.
Yuma’s defense clamped down in the second quarter, leading to a 20-18 halftime lead. The Outlaws still led by one after the third quarter, but were outscored 18-10 in the final frame.
“We played really well against Simla. We didn’t play perfect but no team ever has,” Robinson said. “They just made a couple more shots than we did.”
Neither team shot particularly well, Simla hitting 30 percent from the floor and Yuma 22 percent. The Outlaws did come up with 12 steals and held a slight rebounding advantage.
Sheffield had 14 points and six rebounds, Bailey Nighswonger 12 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals, Ross seven points, four rebounds and three steals, Lungwitz three points and two assists, Black three points, Berkley Nighswonger two points and five rebounds, and Gonzales three rebounds.