Cowgirls fall to Saint Jo

BRYSON – What a difference a year makes.

Saint Jo hosted Bryson’s Cowgirls a year ago on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a veteran Bryson squad taking advantage of the Lady Panthers’ youth and posting a 50-11 win.

Fast forward a year later. Saint Jo still only has one senior but the juniors and sophomores are a year older and wiser. Sophomores Paizlie Cervantes and Aubrey Morman and junior Kyler Dunn were key components throughout but Cervantes came through a pair of big buckets late to break open a tie going into the fourth and post a 44-35 win.

Bryson lost its second straight to fall to 2-5 with Saint Jo staying perfect at 6-0.

Saint Jo ended the third on a 7-0 run to knot the game at 28 heading into the final frame. Cowgirl senior Riley Valliant snapped the run with a bucket 20 seconds into the fourth.

The tenacious, trapping Saint Jo defense forced turnovers and steals throughout the game. Bryson was also saddled with senior Allie Orr fouling out early in the fourth. The visitors used Morman and Dunn free throws and a pair of Cervantes baskets to key a 12-4 run over a six-minute span of the fourth to pull away.

The Cowgirls had just two shots in the first 3:15 of the final frame and just six in the fourth quarter. Saint Jo was 5-15 shooting in the fourth compared to 2-6 for the Cowgirls. Bryson was 8-21 shooting in the second half compared to 11-28 for the visitors.

With Saint Jo leading 15-12 at the half despite shooting 4-26 from the floor, baskets from seniors Joey Morrow and Valliant put Bryson up 16-15. Valliant, who led Bryson with 19 points and 15 rebounds, got more help from an Orr three-pointer as Bryson looked to put things away up 23-17 less than three minutes into the second half.

Bryson led by seven but a bucket and three-pointer from Dunn keyed the late run to tie the game at 28.

The hostesses opened the game on an 8-0 run, baskets by Orr and classmate Tracy Hauger getting thins started, but did not score in the final 4:18 of the first. Saint Jo used free throws and got their first bucket from Cervantes with 1:40 left to stay close, down 8-6 after one.

Saint Jo tied the game at eight but buckets from Valliant and Orr, using tremendous offensive rebounding, would put Bryson up 12-8. The Cowgirls went the last 5:15 of the quarter without scoring, however, missing their last seven from the field. Saint Jo took advantage and closed on a 7-0 run to lead 15-12 at the half.

Dunn led Saint Jo with 13 points. Cervantes added 11 and Morman 10.

Bryson begins play in the Chico Tournament at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. against Forestburg and will play at noon against Electra.

The tournament continues at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2 versus Midway and concludes Saturday at noon with the host team.