Their depth is showing as preseason rolls on for Griz

The varsity Grizzlies girls basketball team earned a season high score when they defeated Buhach Colony 66-40 in the Loyd Hobby Gymnasium last week.

JV continued to dominate as they also won their game with a final score of 55-11.

“All around the team played well as a unit so I think everyone contributed,” said coach Joe Lewis.

“It was a good team win.”

The group emphasizes energy, effort and controlled offense and it showed.

The team continues to showcase their depth as their freshmen and sophomores dominate when they step on the court.

Leading the team in points per game (7.2) is sophomore Kylee Hutchings, who scored the most points out of all the players on the team last season as a freshman. Right behind are sophomores

Abby Beery (6.8) and Livie Twiss (6.2).

“I think the sophomores do a great job, they’re hard workers,” Lewis said.

“They’re great listeners but they’re also great followers.”

The seniors have set the tone for their younger teammates.

Senior Mia Hansen leads the team in field goal percentage with 36 percent, followed by Beery with 32 percent and Haley Baars at 28 percent.

Hansen also leads the team in rebounds with 34. Twiss falls in second with 31 and Beery in third with 25.

“Our seniors are great leaders,” said Lewis.

“The feeling of having a JV unit and a varsity unit that are so well in sync and playing for one another — it’s all attributed to what they do in the off season.”

Hutchings is currently the leader in points this season so far with 36, followed by Beery with 34 and Twiss with 31.

Beery leads the team in assists with 13, followed by Hutchings and Tylie Allison who each have 10.

“We play almost year round and they just continue to get better,” Lewis said.

“We want to compete against the best teams in the league.”

Bob Jaekle’s Mariposa Youth Basketball League and the middle school girls team coached by Samantha Lastra have contributed to the success and the development of future basketball players.

“They make the transition easier at the high school level,” Lewis said.

“We’re really thankful for those programs.”

The team continues to challenge themselves in the preseason as they participated in some tournament action with larger schools Dec. 12-13.

The Grizzlies lost to Torres 67-36 followed by a second loss to Kerman 38-32.

“These are the games that are going to make us better,” the coach said.

“I put a huge emphasis on our defense. Offensively we need to get our timing down and try to get a rhythm and not get panicked.”

MCHS sat with a record of 6-2 after the loss to Kerman.

The Grizzlies went up against the Badgers are Yosemite High School on Dec. 15 followed by a home game against Summerville on Dec. 16.

Results were not available at press time.

Next up, the Grizzlies with host Orestimba at MCHS on Dec. 19.

JV will play at 4 p.m. followed by varsity at 5:30.