Lady Broncos earn win over Whitehorse, but suffer region losses in busy week
by Rhett Sifford
Sports Editor
The San Juan High School girls basketball team started the past week on a high note with a 55-39 win over Whitehorse in the San Juan gym on Wednesday, January 22.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and ultimately was a convincing performance against their rivals to the south.
Early on the game was hard-fought with Whitehorse leading 15-14 after one quarter and the teams tied 27-27 at halftime.
But the Lady Broncos were shot out of a cannon as they came out of the locker room to start the third quarter. They dominated the frame 17-2 to take a commanding 44-29 lead.
Whitehorse got back into rhythm in the fourth quarter but the home team was still able to outscore them 11-10 to secure the win.
As she has all season, Khimya Fullwood led San Juan scoring with an impressive 21 points in the game. Hayden Shumway poured in 11, Kaidence Mitchell added nine, Madi Adams and Macee Palmer got five apiece, and Syndel Atcitty rounded out the scoring with four points.
Fullwood registered another double-double as she pulled down 18 rebounds to go with her 21 points. Mitchell had 11 boards, Adams eight, Shumway six, and Atcitty four.
The Lady Broncos out-rebounded Whitehorse handily 55-29 and won the turnover battle 18-20. San Juan had 15 steals in the game to the Lady Raiders’ 12.
Unfortunately the remainder of the week didn’t go as smoothly for the girls. On Friday, January 24 they welcomed the Gunnison Valley Lady Bulldogs to Blanding for a Region 15 matchup.
Gunnison opened a 19-9 lead in the first quarter and increased it to 32-11 at halftime. San Juan outscored the Lady Bulldogs 8-5 in the third quarter and battled it out in the fourth, scoring 15 points.
It wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit though, and the Lady Broncos fell by a final of 53-34. Adams led San Juan scoring with ten points as Gunnison held Fullwood to just four.
Daveigh Mitchell netted seven points, Palmer got five, and Shumway and Jordan Jones added four points apiece. Adams hit two three-point baskets while Mitchell and Palmer got one each.
The following night, Saturday, January 25, San Juan battled it out in a hard-fought, close game with North Sevier in the San Juan gym.
The Lady Broncos led 55-54 with just ten seconds to go, but the Lady Wolves were able to score in the final seconds to hand San Juan a heartbreaking loss 56-55.
Following the past week’s action the San Juan girls are 6-12 on the season, ranked 17th in the 2A RPI standings. They’re set for another three-game week this week.
On Wednesday, January 29 the team will close out their season series with the Lady Cougars in Monument Valley. Then a couple tough Region 15 opponents are coming to Blanding for a visit.
On Friday, January 31 the Lady Broncos face the 2A #6 Duchesne Lady Eagles. Saturday, February 1 they take on the #1 North Summit Lady Braves.
Tip times are 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Listen to both games on Redrock 92 Radio with video on StreamUtah.Live as part of a quadruple-header with the boys team.