Yuma High School’s girls basketball team looked like a completely different squad in its second game of the shortened 2021 season.
The Indians nearly pulled off the upset of Class 2A second-ranked Limon before eventually succumbing 42-35, Saturday afternoon in their home opener in The Pit.
After getting dominated in a season-opening loss at 3A Brush on Thursday, the Indians led for most of the first three quarters before the bigger and more-experienced Badgers took control down the stretch.
Still, it was an encouraging performance for a Yuma squad playing a lot of underclassmen; at one point having two freshmen, two sophomores and one senior on the floor.
The Indians opened the game with a three-pointer and led 8-2 midway through the first quarter. Limon came back to take a one-point lead in the second, but Yuma responded with a 6-2 spurt for an 18-15 lead.
Yuma led 18-17 at halftime. The teams traded one-point leads in the third and were tied twice. Senior Ema Richardson scored Yuma’s last five points of the quarter for a 29-28 lead heading into the fourth.
Yuma shot a solid 40-percent from the field, and possibly could have pulled off the upset if not for making just one of eight 3-point attempts. The Indians did better protecting the ball, committing 19 turnovers against Limon’s game-long press, and were strong on the boards again with 28 rebounds.
Ema Richardson had 16 points and nine rebounds, Elle Roth seven points, 11 rebounds and two steals, Meidi Reyes five points, Lea Richardson four points and two steals, Emma Rayl three points and three assists, Liddy Day three rebounds, Jailyn Mekelburg two rebounds, Taylor Law one assist, and Caddis Robinson one assist.
The Indians are back in action Tuesday against Chase County in Imperial, Nebraska.
