Turn overs cost Weiser girls the game, 41-36

  Home court advantage means everything and Fruitland likes to play the last game at their place. The Lady Grizzlies hosted our gals on Thursday, January 26. This was not Weiser's finest hour. Usually, the team is a good second half playing team but tonight, the turnovers were mainly bad passes that led to Fruitland points. Weiser had the lead with just over a minute to play. Fruitland dug deeper and found a way to score multiple times to win 41-36.
  Starters for varsity were Sadie Shirts, Marquita Palmer, McKenzie Johnson, Nella Redman and Kellyn Fuller. Weiser had just one three point shot on the night despite numerous attempts. Shirts hit a long baseline shot to start the scoring. Johnson was fouled draining both shots. Fuller picked off a Fruitland pass and finished with the lay-up 6-2. On the fastbreak, Fuller to Johnson to Palmer for the kiss off the glass shot. Shirts was fouled making both shots count, 10-4. Rachael Lee hit an inside shot. Palmer scored off the fast break. Weiser would hold the lead 14-9 at the end of the first quarter.
  Fruitland scored back to back shots in the top of the second. Palmer sank a free throw. At 3:25, Fruitland took the lead. Palmer putback an offensive rebound at 2:21 to knot the score 17-17. Lee with the "O" rebound putback. Palmer picked off a pass and threw the ball to Johnson streaking down the court for the lay-up. Weiser led at the half, 21-19.
  Fruitland really played well in the third quarter while Weiser struggled. Redman sank a free throw. Lee putback her second "O" rebound off a Fruitland miscue under the basket, 24-23 Weiser. Fruitland took the lead with three buckets in a row. Alex Mink was fouled draining both free throws. Fruitland had the lead 31-26 going into the fourth quarter.
  Johnson stole the ball and finished with the lay-up. Fuller hit the only THREE to pull within two points of the Lady Grizzlies. Fuller hit a shot inside to tie the score 33-33 with 6:02 to go in the game. Johnson was fouled from three point range and made all three shots, 36-33 Weiser. Fruitland took the lead back when Weiser turned the ball over four times in a row, 37-36. Weiser only had four team fouls at this point and had to foul to send Fruitland to the line. This ate up clock time. Unfortunately, the free throws were made. Weiser had the ball trailing 39-36. They took a shot and even pulled down the offensive rebound but the second shot clanged off the rim. Fruitland went to the line and finished the game with two more made free throws. Final: Fruitland 41, Weiser 36.
  Scoring: Johnson 9, Palmer and Fuller 7 each, Lee 6, Shirts 4, Mink 2 and Redman 1.