JV girls squad wraps up league championship

The Truckee High junior varsity girls basketball team defeated the Fernley Vaqueros 43-27 on Saturday to capture the JV league championships.

The Wolverines, now a perfect 14-0 on the season, were short-handed due to sickness and injury and suited up only 10 girls, of which only seven were really healthy, said head coach Geoff Stephens.

Trailing 7-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Wolverines calmed down and scored 13 second-quarter points while holding Fernley to two points. Truckee came out fired up in the second half and scored 20 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

All 10 players saw action, including player-manager Lyla Bushnell, who made significant fourth-quarter contributions by scoring and playing stellar defense.

Michelle Hoehn led all scorers with 19 points and was followed by Kati Murphy’s eight points. Seven other Wolverines scored.

Truckee’s defense was led by Katy Stephens, whose nine steals, five assists and smothering defense on Fernley’s shooting guard ignited the offense.

The Wolverines have two more league games before the season comes to a end. Dayton will visit Truckee on Wednesday, and then the girls will travel to Yerington to conclude the season on Friday.

Sophomore center and forward Kati Murphy will be rewarded for her hard work by suiting up with the varsity girls against Dayton on Wednesday.