The Lady Pirates were on the road last week taking the several hundred mile overnight road trip to Monument Valley then on to Navajo Mountain. The Pirates first went into hostile territory to take on the MV Cougars. The gym was jam packed with standing room only and a very loud atmosphere. The contest went back and forth, the Pirates leading then the cougars coming back to overtake them. In the fourth quarter Green River was down by 10 but fought back to within four. The clock was not in the Pirates corner and ran out during the comeback. Green River fell, 52-57. The scoring was very uniform, Megan Hatt leading with two 3s and making 17 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Michaela Hughes scored 14 and pulled down 19 boards, while Jamie Johnson also got a double double, scoring 13 and grabbing 10 boards. Feleisha Antillion hit a three and scored five while Kira Engleman made a jump shot for two.
The next morning the Pirates traveled into Arizona for more than 100 miles before ending up in Utah at Navajo Mountain. Quite possibly the most out of the way school in Utah. The Green were a little wearied from the trip but came out and took care of business very quickly and led at the end of the first quarter, 17-6.
This game was never in jeopardy and the Pirates pulled off the victory, 60-30. The scoring was very even in this game. Hatt had 18 points, five boards and seven assists. Hughes ended with 17 points, 12 boards and five steals. J. Johnson worked her way to 16 points, 12 boards and three assists. While Antillion scored five, got five rebounds and six steals. Sydney Thayn scored four on two for two shooting. This was a must win for the Pirates.
Region standings are very tight and the Pirates must win one of their two remaining games to qualify for state. Both games are with teams fighting for a state berth also. If the Green wins one game they will tie for second, win two and they tie for first.
The Lady Pirates were on the road early last week to face the Monticello Buckaroos in a must win game if they were to maintain their first in region status. The Pirates would have to be on their game if they were to win in a hostile environment where they hadn’t pulled off a victory in several years. Monticello got the tip and scored quickly. The Bucks game strategy was evident early as they packed in their defense to slow down the potent inside play of Michaela Hughes and Jamie Johnson. Megan Hatt saw the strategy and pulled up at the top of the key and drained a three. The Pirates never trailed again in this game due to the team shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. Hatt led all players in scoring with 17, including five 3s. Hughes had 12 points on hot 5-7 shooting. Antillion added to the outside shooting by knocking down three 3s on her way to 10 points and J. Johnson finished with nine points. Thayn added four and Engleman scored two on the way to an unexpected lopsided victory, 56-39.
The Pirates were then to face the Whitehorse Raiders in their final home game. The Green was motivated to avenge their earlier region loss to the Raiders and came out hard and played very well. The Pirates had Whitehorse off balance all night and cruised to an easy 57-35 victory.
Hughes got a double double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while blocking four shots. Hatt was right behind hitting for 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists. J. Johnson also got a double double, scoring 10 and getting 12 boards. Engleman tallied four points and Manalilli scored two. The Pirates finished the season tied for first with Monument Valley which led to a coin flip for seeding at state. The Pirates lost the flip and will be seeded second, which means they will face Intermountain Christian on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield.
Coach Parsons is happy with the recent play of the team and believes the girls can do very well at state. Good Luck Lady Pirates.
Green River girls begin state tourney Wednesday night in Richfield
"Megan Hatt."