Cowgirl comeback falls short vs. Graford

BRYSON – Bryson’s Cowgirls battled for shots against a larger Graford squad but simply couldn’t get enough of them to fall Jan. 5 as the hostesses lost a 27-21 verdict at Cowgirl Gym.

Bryson is now 0-2 in district and played at Throckmorton Friday.

Neither team could buy a bucket early, each shooting 2-11 from the floor in the first quarter. Allie Orr got the Cowgirls out to an early lead but Graford used a pair of buckets and a free throw to go up 5-2. Windsor Godfrey then came through with another bucket to get within one.

Orr, who had the first Brysn shot, and Godfrey, who had the last, helped Bryson stay close at 5-4 after one.

Orr gave the Cowgirls their first and only lead at 6-5 with a mid-lane jumper early in the second quarter. Graford would continue to use its size, which intimidated Bryson, for buckets throughout the night. The lady Rabbits outscored Bryson 16=-4 in the second quarter, including a pair of outside bombs late in the half, which Graford to take a 20-9 lead at the half.

Sophomore Riley Valliant, who had had first points late in the half, took control in the third quarter. She had Bryson’s first points of the half with a basket with 4:03 left and then added a basket late in the stanza. The Cowgirls also got a free throw from sophomore Tracy Hauger to help the Blue outscore the visitors 5-4 for the quarter and Graford took a 24-14 lead into the fourth frame.

Valiant continued to use nifty spin move sfor a pair of buckets in the fourth as the Cowgirls got within 24-18 with 3:20 to go. Orr would come through with a late bucket but it wasn’t enough.

Valiant had a game-high 12 for the Cowboys with Orr adding six.