Middle School Girls Basketball 2011-03-09 NWMS vs LaVenture

North Whidbey Middle School ended the 2010-2011 girls basketball season on a mixed note Wednesday afternoon at NWMS against LaVenture MS

In the 7th grade game, the Cougars found themselves down 6-2 at the end of the 1st period, but came back to take an 11-8 lead at halftime. They held the lead into the 4th period when LaVenture took a 19-18 lead with 3:03 left in the game. Then, with less than a minute to go, Morgan Kenaley got a steal and drove down the court to score and give the lead back to NW, 20-19. Ten seconds later, Rosie Mooki added some free throws then sealed with win with the last of her 16 points as North Whidbey held on to win 25-19. In addition to Mooki's 16 points, Hannah Knoll scored 4, Mariel Empinado and Kenaley 2 each, Reiley Auger and Kiesha Watts 1 each.

While the 8th grade defense played well, holding LaVenture to 33 points, the offensive woes continued as the team scored only a single field goal in the game, a 3rd quarter bucket by Sydney Erickson.

OHMS finishes their season with a trip to Cascade MS, then the 7th and 8th grades from both schools will combine to form the Wildcat United track team in April.

77 8th grade photos are posted HERE

71 7th grade photos are posted HERE.

Middle School Girls Basketball 2011-02-15 - NW vs Mt Baker

The Middle School girls basketball season kicked off yesterday with OHMS facing Anacortes on the road and NWMS hosting Mt. Baker.

In the Cougar gym, things didn't look too bad for the 7th grade girls. At first. Mt. Baker built an early 5-0 lead and the Cougars didn't score until Hannah Knoll scored to make it 2-5 with 4:10 left in the first. Then, Rieley Auger nailed a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the 1st to make it 5-7. Then in the 2nd period, Knoll scored again to tie the game at 7 each then Laura Anderson tied it again at 9 with 4:35 left in the 1st half. Unfortunately, that was the last score NWMS would get in the half as they went into the locker room down 15-9. Things got worse in the 2nd half as the Cougar girls could not contain the Grizzly offense and lost 29-19. Knoll finished with 10 points, Auger with 3, while Anderson, Mariel Empinado and Monique Masuko had 2 each.

The 8th grade was a blowout. With just a few returning players, the Cougars found themselves in a 22-0 1st quarter deficit. The Cougars finally got on the board when Aubrey Lock scored with 4:55 left in the 2nd. Mt. Baker went on to win the game 56-7. Lock scored 4 in the game, Ashleigh Cook 2 and Meghan Gronbach 1.

A few video highlights are HERE.

51 photos from the 7th grade game are posted HERE.

67 photos from the 8th grade game are posted HERE.

MS Girls Basketball 2010-03-04 NWMS vs LaVenture

Mt. Vernon's LaVenture Middle School was the visiting team Thursday at North Whidbey Middle School for girls basketball game.

The 7th grade game was full of action, but little scoring. LaVenture was able to score 9 points and held the Cougars scoreless. NW got their first point on a rebound and score by Kayla Jones at the 5:47 mark in the 2nd period. Just over a minute later Natalie McVey scored as well but that was it for the first half. LaVenture only scored 4 in the 2nd period to lead 13-4 at the half. The two teams played even for the rest of the game, leaving LaVenture with a 22-12 victory. Hayley Lundstrom scored twice in the 2nd half to lead the team in scoring with 4 points. McVey, Jones, Jessica Hollins and Aubrey Lock each scored 2 points.

51 photos of the 7th graders, including some goofy team pics from before the game, are posted HERE.

It was a slow start as well for the 8th graders. At the end of the first period the score was 3-2 in favor of the Cougars, with all 3 points coming off of Chelsea Atkinson free throws. LaVenture hit a pair of 3-pointers in the 2nd period and held NW to just one field goal to lead 8-5 at the half. Atkinson finally got going in the 3rd period, scoring 10 points to account for all of the NWMS scoring in the period. During that time the defense held LaVenture to just 2 points. In the 4th, LaVenture was able to put up 9 points, but behind 7 made free throws by Chelsea, the Cougars were able to hold on for a 27-19 win - their first of the season.

8th grade photos are HERE (53 total)

A video clip highlighting all 3 field goals from the first half of each game is HERE.