John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
The Lorna Byrne Middle School girls basketball team dropped from the undefeated ranks this last week, going 1-1 with a victory over Rogue River Monday before a loss to Rogue Valley Adventist/Ruch last Wednesday. The Lady Vikings have a 3-1 record heading into the fourth week of the season this week. A game scheduled Wednesday against Prospect was played as a “B” game at Prospect’s request.
On Monday, Lorna Byrne won all four quarters against the Chieftains on the way to a dominant 30-15 win. The Lady Vikings got off to a strong start, leading 10-6 the end of the first quarter. Lorna Byrne held Rogue River to just two points in the second quarter, and held a 16-8 advantage at the half.
The third quarter was slow for both teams, but Vivienne Klein and Skilyn Deckert both got field goals to put Lady Vikings up 20-11 going into the final stanza. Asriel Miller outscored Rogue River by herself in the final frame and Lorna Byrne chalked up the 30-15 win.
Deckert finished the game with 10 points to lead Lorna Byrne. Klein and Miller each chipped in six points, while Dakota Kohler had four points. Jocelyn Sanchez and Saray Mendoza added two apiece for the Lady Vikings.
On Wednesday, the Green and Gold dropped a hard-fought 29-20 decision at home to a combined team from Rogue Valley Adventist/Ruch. Lorna Byrne got off to a slow start, getting blanked in the first quarter as the visitors jumped out in front 8-0 after the initial period. The second quarter saw the Lady Vikings get their first points of the game, but RVA/Ruch scored nine more points to take a commanding 17-4 lead at the intermission.
The teams traded buckets in the third frame, but Lorna Byrne trailed 23-10 heading into the final frame. Although the Lady Vikings doubled their point total from the game in the final period, the deficit was too large to overcome.
Mackenzie Latimer and Decker each had four points to lead the Lorna Byrne. If there was any bright spot in the game for the Lady Vikings, it was the balanced scoring that bodes well for the future. Miller added three points, while Sanchez, Klein, Kohler and Natalie Praetor all hit field goals. Mendoza hit a single free throw to account for the remainder of Lorna Byrne’s scoring.
The Lorna Byrne “B” squad lost both of their games last week, falling at Rogue River 21-12 on Monday before being manhandled by RVA/Ruch 26-8 on Wednesday. The Lady Viking B’s dropped to 2-3 on the year.
Against Rogue River, for the Viking B squad grabbed a 6-2 lead after the first quarter and still had an 8-6 advantage at the half. However, the Chieftains “B” squad turned the tables in the third quarter, outscoring Lorna Byrne 11-0 to grab a 17-8 lead going into the final quarter. Both teams traded baskets over in the last period and the Lady Vikings were unable to overtake Rogue River.
Lorna Byrne got four points each from Jocelynn Southammavong, Nya Barton and Mackenzie Latimer in the loss.
Against Rogue Valley Adventist/Ruch, the Green and Gold stayed close for a quarter, trailing by four 8-4 after the initial frame. The onslaught began in the second quarter when RVA/Ruch outpaced the Lady Vikings 12-2 total a commanding 20-6 lead at the break. Lorna Byrne managed just a single field goal by Madison Paul in the third. Neither team scored in the final quarter and the visitors went home with the 26-8 victory.
Paul was the sole bright spot for the Green and Gold, tallying six of Lorna Byrne’s eight points. Bailee Reed got the other basket for the Lady Vikings B squad.
The Lady Vikings are scheduled to play Sacred Heart/Madrone Trail at Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s at home this week. The St. Mary’s games will be played Wednesday at Jamie Scott Memorial Gym. The opening game is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.