GUNNISON – On one hand, the Gunnison Valley Lady Bulldogs certainly looked the part of an improved product last week.
On the other, however, the wins continue to be elusive as the Gunnison Valley girls’ basketball team lost its eighth straight game.
Gunnison fell, 50-36, at North Sevier on February 1, then lost again to Duchesne, 59-45 on February 3.
With the losses, the Lady Bulldogs fall to 4-14 on the season. They remain winless in Region 16.
In the loss to North Sevier, the Lady Bulldogs finally showed life on the offensive end. The 36 points broke a streak of seven consecutive games where they did not score more than 25 points.
Junior Rilee Dyreng scored 12 points, while senior Raven Pickett added 11 for the Lady Bulldogs.
Gunnison Valley’s defense was an improvement as well, holding their opponent to the fewest points scored against them in a region game this year.
Most of the Lady Bulldogs’ damage was done in the fourth quarter. Prior to that, it was looking like another blowout waiting to happen.
North Sevier used a 20-2 run in the second quarter to build a 29-10 lead at halftime. North Sevier also used a 15-8 edge in the third period to build a 44-18 lead entering the final stanza.
Gunnison outscored North Sevier 18-6 over the final eight minutes. It was Gunnison’s highest-scoring quarter of play since the fourth quarter against Merit Academy on Dec. 15.
In the loss to Duchesne, Gunnison Valley again put itself in good position in the second half. After trailing 34-18 at halftime, the Lady Bulldogs put together yet another 18-point quarter to cut the Eagles’ lead to eight. It was as close as the Lady Bulldogs would get as Duchesne pulled away in the final period.
Dyreng paced the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points as she hit four 3-pointers.
Gunnison will finish their regular season with a home game as they take on North Summit on Tuesday.