Lady Cats Thump Roundup 55-17 & Fall to Shepherd 65-20
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Wendy Briere
The Harlem Lady Cats finally got their 2023-24 campaign started this past weekend in Billings at the Class B Tip-off being played at Lockwood High School. Friday afternoon, the Lady Cats caged the Roundup Panthers 55-17. Saturday the girls were back on the court to take on Shepherd, dropping a 65-20 contest with the Fillies.
Friday against the Panthers, the Lady Cats got the fast start they were hoping for to begin the season. Junior Raelynne Briere connected from beyond the arc and scored five first quarter points, while seniors Emma Billmayer, Jasalyn Lambert and junior Jaden Blackcrow each scored from the field, helping the Lady Cats stake out an 11-2 lead after eight minutes of action.
The Harlem offense kept it going in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 19-5 in the frame. Junior Gracie Sanchez, Briere and Billmayer each dropped in three-point bombs while senior Aaraya Mount added a pair of free throws and four points to give Harlem a 30-7 lead heading into halftime. Freshman Maddy Mount and junior Laci Walls took their turn connecting from distance as a well-balanced Harlem attack took a 46-12 lead into the fourth quarter of action.
The Lady Cats closed out the Panthers with a strong finish, getting six more points from Walls on the way to a 55-17 season-opening win. The Lady Cats were led on the afternoon by Walls with nine. Mount, Briere and Billmayer each added eight in the win. Ten of the eleven dressed found the scoring column.
Saturday afternoon against the Shepherd Fillies, the Lady Cats found themselves at the other end of the Spectrum. Shepherd started fast and never looked back, building a 25-2 lead after one quarter of action. The Fillies kept their foot on the gas in the second, outscoring the Lady Cats 17-4 to take a 42-6 lead into halftime.
Harlem played considerably better after the break, but the Fillies maintained complete control and defeated the Lady Cats 65-20. Mount led the Lady Cats with nine points in the loss. Harlem falls to 1-1 on the young season. The Lady Cats will return to the court on Tuesday, December 19, when they will travel to Hays to take on the Thunderbirds. Harlem will take on Dodson in their home opener on December 21. They will close out 2023 with a road contest in Poplar against the Indians in their District 2B conference opener.
