Yuma High School’s girls basketball team is tantalizingly close to a fun run through what remains of the season.
The Outlaws entered this past Tuesday’s 3A Patriot League game at Strasburg 13-4 overall, and alone in first place in the 3A Patriot at 7-0. They are Windsor Charter Academy on Friday before hosting Resurrection Christian on Tuesday in the final 3A Patriot game.
Yuma was ranked No. 3 in the CHSAA 3A Selection & Seeding Index entering this week. As of now, the Outlaws are in line to host at least one game in the regular-season ending Patriot League Tournament, and more importantly host a regional in early March.
“That has been a goal set at the beginning of the year,” coach Jeremy Robinson said.
However, there still is plenty of work left.
“WCA returns quite a few players from last year and they are much improved,” Robinson said. “We need to make sure we do our job so we can continue to meet our goals. Now is not the time to stub our toe on the road.”
Plus, Resurrection Christian, next Tuesday’s opponent, entered this week just one game behind Yuma in the 3A Patriot standings. The Cougars won the 3A title last year.
The Outlaws claimed sole possession of first place in the 3A Patriot with a rugged 28-21 win over Wiggins, last Friday in The Pit.
It was a defense-lover’s dream as neither team could find any footing on offense.
Yuma led 14-12 midway through the third quarter, and clung to a 15-13 advantage entering the fourth.
The Outlaws finally got some separation in the final frame, nearly doubling their scoring output with 13 points. The loss dropped Wiggins to 6-1 in league play.
“We played great defense and so did Wiggins,” Robinson said. “We had some opportunities offensively that we missed out on, especially at the free throw line.”
Yuma made only six of 16 at the charity stripe. The Outlaws shot 31 percent from the floor, but did make two 3-pointers.
Berkley Nighswonger had 10 points and four rebounds, Aubrey Black eight points and four steals, Taryn Sheffield three points and two steals, Carolina Ross two points, Keylen Quezada two points, Bailey Nighswonger one point and five rebounds, and Lauren Gonzales four rebounds.
The Outlaws headed south to Strasburg this past Tuesday. They improved to 14-4, 8-0 with a 36-23 win. It was their first win over the Indians in a couple of seasons.
Yuma fell behind in the first half but led 17-12 by halftime. The Outlaws pushed the lead to double digits in the third quarter and kept it there the rest of the game.
Berkley Nighswonger had 15 points, Sheffield seven, Gonzales six, Ross three, Bailey Nighswonger two and Quezada two.