Banner County Girls Notch First Win

The Banner County Wildcats were able to walk away with their first win of the season in their game against the Minatare Indians Saturday, January 12.

“It’s such a relief,” Haleigh White of the Wildcats said of the win which comes on the heels of nine consecutive losses.

The Wildcats took the lead early in the game cutting the Minatare press with a succession of passes leading to a layup by Haleigh White putting the Wildcats on the board 2-0 with 6:21 to go in the first quarter.

The Wildcats held the lead through the first half pulling away from the Indians 15-11. The game turned more aggressive in the second half with some players struggling to deal with the physicality of the game as fouls sent members of both teams tumbling to the floor.

“Some of us got into it too much and kind of let it get to us, but we knew they would be like that,” White said.

In the fourth quarter, the Indians were to cut away at Banner County’s lead, drawing within two points of the Wildcats with 6:56 left to go in the game. However, the Wildcats were able to fend off the visitors, coming out on top with a 36-26 victory.

“We definitely had to work really hard for it. We’ve been working non-stop. Tonight’s game was a good indicator of how much we’ve improved,” head coach Brittany Cooper said.