Vandal girls open league play with 2 wins

Eureka girls basketball got two road wins at Carlin and Owyhee Jan. 11-12.

“Two good wins for us to start league,” commented coach Travis Gallagher.”

The Friday game was a 47-17 blowout of Carlin. Freshman Kyra Todd lead the team with 10 points as Gallagher used all 12 players on the roster.

Akilah Leach was high point for Carlin with 12. But the Railroaders had lots of trouble scoring, having only nine points after three quarters.

“We had a great start,” said Gallagher [26-5 at halftime], “and I was able to use my JV players in the second half. Kyra [Todd], has been playing some of late off the JV squad and made a number of steals and easy layups in this game.”

On Saturday at Owyhee, the Lady Vandals scored a 60-47 win that was not as close as the score might indicate.

Gallagher said, “We had a 20-point lead [44-24] after three quarters, but were bothered some by their full court press in the fourth quarter and and let them back into it before I put the starters back in, and it was an important win for us on the road.”

Eureka now leads the series, 12-11, between the teams since 2007.

Four of the Lady Vandals scored in double digits at Owyhee. Gracie Garrett had 18 points, Carlie Wells with 13 and Angelica Townsend and Ilyhia Greely both contributed 11 points.

“If we could always play like that, we look pretty good,” Gallagher noted. “Everything was clicking for us, shots were going in, we ran the court well and did OK at the foul line [12 of 22].”

Stats were not posted for Owyhee.

The Vandals girls (11-3, 2-0) have just one home game this weekend, Friday, Jan. 18 hosting Wells (12-4, 0-1).

Jackpot, who had been scheduled for Jan. 19, did not field a girls team again this season.

Gallagher said, “It should be a good game with the Leopards, they always play us strong.” Eureka lost two of the three meetings last year, including the regional playoffs.

However, this year, Wells lost to league leader McDermitt 50-43 Jan. 11.