The football team is still suiting up, so the North Sunflower Academy basketball team awaits their return to the hardwood. In a limited November schedule, the teams will be at home next Tuesday to host Kirk Academy. They won’t play again until the first week of December.
Last week the teams traveled to West Memphis and Deer Creek. The boys lost at West Memphis, 41-33 and a close one at Deer Creek, 43-42.
In looking back at the West Memphis game, Co-Head Coach Brenda Cummins is working the limited number of players on her bench.
“I only had six players, one did not play due to personal injury but should be back to practice next week,” Coach Cummins said. “Although we were very outsized under the board, we missed numerous under-the-goal shots. My little guys out front did a super great job defensively. I have three out front that I had them in a one-on-one press the entire game. I was proud of the way they worked hard the entire game without being able to take a break. I rotated one of my post to the top to see how he could handle the ball which he did well. All in all, it was a learning curve and a test of hard play. Bottom line, missed under-the-goal shots killed us but we will keep working. This team consists of all players with first year playing time and our hard work will pay off.”
The Lady Rebels took down the Lady Warriors of Deer Creek, 30-25 in the JV game and 49-33 in the varsity. Makayla Turner led the Varsity with 21 points, six steals and six assists. Rhianna Love added 14 points, four steals and three blocks. Kendra Womack added nine points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Baylee Hewitt added five points.
In the JV matchup, Love had 17 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and six steals while Baylee Hewitt had eight points, five assists and four steals. Elizabeth Head contributed with five points, 14 rebound and three blocks.
The girls team, though light on numbers, are working with what they have. Head Coach Anthony Rivera has a bench of seven that was down to only five players in their matchup with Washington School but the JV pulled out the win, 19-18. With the game tied at 18 in the final seconds, freshman Rihanna Love had a steal and drove the length of the court only to be fouled. She hit one of two free throws for the win.
The varsity girls “came out flat” and couldn’t dig out of an early hole against the Lady Generals. With only seven girls on his team, Coach Rivera saw his Lady Rebels fall, 51-21.
“They ran off from us. We were down a couple of girls on varsity too. I was only able to rotate seven girls,” Coach Rivera said. “We don’t play again until the 16th. I feel good about our team. We have the potential down the stretch to be ready. They gotta grasp it. They have to want it. I can’t want it for them. By mid-season, physically and mentally, they’ll be ready to go when district play starts.”
