John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley High School girls basketball hosted a trio of nonconference games in basketball last week, posting a 1-2 record over the week. The Lady Cougars sit at 1-5 for the year right now.
The highlight of the week came on Friday night when I.V. hosted the Days Creek Wolves and came away with a 51-42 victory. The Cougars pounced on the Wolves with Evalynn Guzman scoring all 15 of the Cougars’ points in the opening quarter as I.V .jumped out to a 15-8 lead to start the game.
Guzman scored eight more points in the second period as the Cougars took a 29-20 lead into the intermission. Jesse Pope had the other six points in the quarter for the Cougars. That seemed to be the theme of the night as the visitors had no answer for the pair of I.V. juniors.
Guzman would finish with a career-high 29 points and Pope poured in 20 as the pair had 49 of the Cougars 51 points in the game. Emily Hall had the other bucket for the Cougs.
On Saturday, Illinois Valley hosted Umpqua Valley Christian and dropped a 64-49 decision to the Monarchs.
The Cougars had problems putting the ball in the basket in the first quarter and dropped behind 21-6 ofter the initial period. I.V. battled UVC tightly the rest of the game, but the first period deficit was too much to overcome. Pope scored her career-high against the Monarchs, totaling 27 points on the night. Guzman chipped in 14 for the Cougars. Three other players scored for I.V. as Emily hall scored four points and both Kaleigh Box and Shelby Reed tallied a single bucket.
On Tuesday the Cougars dropped a 45-36 decision to Glide. The Wildcats jumped on the Cougars outpacing I.V. 15-9 in the opening period before really setting the clamps down in the second period. Glide outscored I.V. 11-2 in the second to take a 26-11 lead at the half.
Guzman and Pope tied for the team lead with 14 points a piece. Hall added six points in the losing effort, and Box also had a field goal.
The Cougars will travel all three games this week: Tuesday to Bonanza and Thursday to North Valley for a pair of non-league tilts. On Saturday, I.V. will go to Monroe for the Valley Coast Conference opener against the Dragons.