It was a close game for the girls Savage Heat and Plains Trotters last Tuesday. Both teams started out at full steam and never let up. In the first quarter the teams were neck and neck when Hot Springs junior Lauyrn Aldridge made a two-point shot with 30 seconds left on the clock for an 11-8 lead.

In the second quarter the teams again fought a close race with some great offensive plays. With the help of some swift handling by senior Kassidy O'Keefe, Plains gained the upper hand to end the half ahead 16-12.

In the third quarter the defenses kept a tight hold over the hoop and the points advanced slowly ending with Plains holding on to the lead 23-20.

In the fourth quarter the players grabble was on; the points were flying through the hoops and the crowd went wild. At two minutes left Plains was ahead by just one point, 33-32. In the last seconds Savage Heat senior Josie Uski made a three-point shot to end the game, but it wasn't enough to catch Plains as the Trotters got a 37-35 victory.

"I really enjoy playing close games, so it's always fun to play a team that matches up well with us. I think the girls had fun and so did the coaches!" said Plains Coach Kylie Ishler.

For the Trotters, Carlie Wagoner made 17 points and 16 rebounds; O'Keefe racked up 10 points; Lexie Deming and Peyton Wasson scored four points each with Deming making 15 rebounds and Maddy Blood scored two points for the team.

Hot Springs Coach Richard Jackson called his team the "Fab Five." Having lost a player, he said he had three eighth graders on the bench getting trained to play.

Lily DeTienne scored 11 points for the Savage Heat with seven rebounds; Aldridge chalked up nine points and four rebounds; Uski scored seven points; Kara Christensen racked up six points and Brooke Jackson made two points and eight rebounds for the Savage Heat.

In the boys game, the Horsemen claimed victory over the Savage Heat 40-32. It was a tough match-up in the first quarter ending at 12-7, Plains. In the second quarter the Horsemen surged ahead doubling the score, 24-13. By the fourth quarter Hot Springs picked up momentum gaining 12 points and losing only 10.

"Nick McAllister stepped up and was a leader toward the end to get us back on track," said Coach Reily Winebrenner. He remarked that the defense was strong, only giving up 40 points.

Jennifer Curran

At left, John Marrinan of Hot Springs jumps for the basket against Plains.

For the Horsemen, sophomore Darren Standeford scored 13 points and made seven steals. Coach Tyrel Allen said that Colby Anderson made six rebounds in a limited amount of time. Allen shared that all of the players from the bench were involved in the action.