Sisters, Freshman, Lainey Terry (5) and Senior, Madison Terry (34) work together to keep the ball from Box Elder.
The Lady Pioneers work together to block Box Elder from the shot.
Big Sandy produced its most prolific offensive output of the season Friday but it was not enough as the Pioneers fell 76-29 to Box Elder in girls basketball.
The Pioneers went on the road Saturday and were downed 70-14 by North Star.
Facing the Bears at home, Big Sandy spotted their guests a 21-0 lead, missing about a dozen shots before getting one to fall.
"We shot five times from 2 feet on our first (possession) of the game and couldn't get one of them to go," said Pioneers coach Pete Jerrel. "Then we had some runs there when we got some to go in."
The Pioneers broke the drought with a 5-0 run beginning at the 2:55 mark of the first quarter. Eva Wagoner banked an elbow-three pointer and Lainey Terry cleaned up on the offensive glass in the ensuing possession. Jaihven Baumann showed a bit of clutch at the end of the quarter, going back up with another offensive rebound at the buzzer to make it 30-7.
That sparked a 9-3 run in which Jaycee Worrall made good on both opportunities from the free-throw line, then Terry took a steal the other way and found Wagoner, who was fouled underneath. She hit the first of two foul shots. Madison Terry scored on an offensive rebound in the paint and Lainey Terry got into the lane and went up for a bucket after beating her defender and catching a long pass.
"We played tough in the second quarter," Jerrel said. "But we came out flat in the third quarter. They get that big lead, (Box Elder) can throw the ball around, play like they're in the backyard."
The Pioneers compiled another 5-0 run to conclude the third quarter. Worrall splashed another elbow trey and Amy Gasvoda got off another buzzer beater that took it to 68-25 entering the final period.
"We did a great job of looking to our post players," Jerrel said. "Angie did a nice job tonight, working down low and getting offensive rebounds put back up. Then Amy (Gasvoda) coming across the middle ... giving a little shoulder roll."
The improvement is yet to show up in the win column but Jerrel is seeing progress since opening night against District 9C front-runner Fort Benton.
"We are starting to trust each other more and play a little more as a team now ... instead of five individuals on the court," he said.
Wagoner reached double figures to lead Big Sandy with 10 points. Madison Terry added 6, Worrall scored 5 and Baumann scored 4 points. Gasvoda and Lainey Terry added a bucket apiece.
"Eva got them going with a few shots," Jerrel said. "Mattie (Gasvoda) is playing some basketball, her arms are getting bruised up a little ... we got some steals, a bunch of tipped passes and played with our arms up on defense."
Breana Bacon led all scorers with 18 for Box Elder.
In the North Star contest, Big Sandy fell to 0-5 on the season. The Pioneers return to action at home 5 p.m. Friday against the tall Turner Tornadoes and get back on the road Saturday to face Hays-Lodgepole and complete the first of two round-robins through the 9C slate.
