WINNEMUCCA - The eighth-grade basketball team is off to a great start.
We are a tight group on and off of the court and we are blessed with a strong bond that you can't force to happen. Each girl brings a different strength to the team.
Our positive attitude and our ability to work together helps us win, and our coach encourages us daily to work as a team and win as a team.
The saying "hard work pays off" really is true. Our team puts its heart and soul into basketball. We love the game and it shows. As of now, we stand undefeated and it looks as if the seventh-graders are right there behind us maintaining an undefeated record as well. We hope to finish our season as strong as we have started it.
Winnemucca, currently 7-0, began its season with wins over Carson Middle School and Eagle Valley on Friday, Sept. 6, in Carson City. The Warriors moved to Fernley on Saturday, Sept. 7, and defeated Fernley and Fallon.
Winnemucca began Tri-County League play on Friday, Sept. 13, and came away with three wins. The Warriors beat Battle Mountain 39-10, Pershing County 39-20 and Fallon 32-19. McDermitt does not have an eighth-grade team.
Kyllie Sappington, Alyssa Kuskie and Bailey Sapien are the leading scorers for the Warriors and Kepa Bengochea has been a leader on defense, according to WJHS head coach Jack Smith.
"The eighth-grade team is off to a great start and are super fun to coach," said Smith. "Our best teams we have played are Fallon and Pershing County and you must play well to beat them. We are running our set offense well and they are exciting to watch when pressing."
Winnemucca will look to stay undefeated as it travels to McDermitt on Saturday for the second round of Tri-County action at 10 a.m.
Kepa Bengochea is an eighth-grader at Winnemucca Junior High School and member of the girls basketball team[[In-content Ad]]
