Injuries still hampering Lady Templars
Good South Sevier team takes advantage to win game 63-61
Bob Bahlmann
Staff writer
12-15-2016
DUCHESNE—Just when the Manti girls basketball team saw starting point guard Avalin Cook return to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury, the team’s leading scorer, Jamie Bawden was benched with a similar injury.
Although both players took the floor in the Templar loss to a very good South Sevier team on Dec. 8, the Rams dominated that game for the 63-31 win. Two days later, Bawden’s absence against Duchesne might have been the difference when Manti lost to the Eagles, 34-20.
Against the Rams, the Lady Templars fell behind early and could never close the gap. Manti trailed 33-19 at the half and although they never quit, couldn’t stay with South Sevier. Leah Howe had arguably the best game of her varsity career with a double-double. She had 12 points and 16 rebounds. Bawden scored seven points with four boards. Cook saw limited playing time and had four points and five rebounds. Auri Squire hit a three pointed, Annie Hammer and Kjerstin Birch had two points each and Amie Squire hit a free throw to go along with four rebounds.
At Duchesne, the Lady Templars got off to a slow start and trailed 18-2 at halftime. The second half was a better showing with Manti outscoring the Eagles, 18-16. Cook led the Templar scoring with eight points. She also had two rebounds and two assists. Kallie Young joined Birch with five points each. Young had five steals while Birch pulled down five rebounds. Amie Squire had two points and five rebounds.
Things won’t get any easier for the Lady Templars this week. They will be traveling to Richfield on tomorrow for the 3A-2A Preview at the Sevier Valley Center, where they will take on Hurricane at 1 p.m. Saturday will pit the Templars against Beaver at 1:30 p.m.
