Yuma High School’s girls basketball team was the only game left in town Friday night, and the Indians made the most of it with a 41-37 win over the Peyton Panthers.
With the rest of the YHS boys team’s regular season canceled due to a COVID-19 case — negating a Top 10 showdown with Peyton — three YHS students being injured in a car wreck last night, one reportedly seriously injured, and the wrestling team losing at top-ranked Wray last night, the Yuma girls varsity team was the only one left to bring a positive ending to a difficult 24 hours.
The Indians definitely answered the call, improving to 3-8 overall heading into Saturday’s LPAA game at Wiggins.
Ironically, this was the week Yuma County moved into Level Blue on the state’s COVID-19 Dial 2.0, resulting in a chance of having much bigger crowds in The Pit. However, due to circumstances, the venerable gymnasium was not nearly as full as anticipated.
Still, the Indians rose to the challenge.
They came out in a full-court press, which helped them run out to a 13-2 lead.
Peyton, however, went on a 14-0 run bracketing the end of the first and beginning of the second quarters to claim a 16-13 lead.
Yuma did not wilt, though, and six points by senior Ema Richardson late in the quarter led to a 19-19 tie.
The Indians then opened the third on a 9-2 run, and led 30-26 heading into the fourth.
They built their lead to as much as eight, 36-28, midway through the fourth and then iced the victory at the free-throw line.
Ema Richardson broke out to lead the Indians to the win as the senior had 18 points. Lea Richardson added eight, Elle Roth seven and Taylor Law seven. The Indians will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they play at Wiggins on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
