Royal ladies basketball fall three times

ROYAL CITY - Flor Araujo had a big week, totaling 50 points over three games, but there wasn't enough team for Royal High to win any of the girls basketball contests last week.

"We are still struggling shooting from the field," Coach Phil Daubel said.

Even Araujo had shooting problems. Her best of three nights was 30 percent. The team's best, against Cascade, was 27 percent.

The losses were by 60-44 against Cascade, by 45-44 against Wahluke and by 50-29 against Warden.

The Knights fell back, 17-8, after one quarter against Cascade. They were outscored in each succeeding quarter. But those three quarters saw good performance.

"We were very aggressive and got to the basket and to the free throw line," Daubel said. "Problem was when we got to the free throw line we didn't convert."

The Royal girls made 14 of 34 free throw attempts.

Araujo made five of six free throws en route to a 20-point night. Jennifer Ledezma added 11 points and picked off nine rebounds. Jacky Guadarrama scored eight points.

The Wahluke game nearly got away in the second quarter when the Warriors built a 15-point lead. But the Knights came back late in the quarter and throughout the second half, only to fall short by one point.

"We shot only 20 percent from the field," Daubel said. "We were also only 38 percent from the line, and that was the difference in the game tonight."

"I really liked how my girls fought back," Daubel added. "We tied it up in the fourth and had numerous opportunities down the stretch to take the lead. We had a shot at the buzzer that fell short."

Araujo led the scoring with 17 points. Jacky Guadarrama added 13. Guadarrama led in rebounds with 13. Ledezma had 10, Kailee Harris seven and Staci Hebdon six.

That game with Warden did you get away in the second quarter. The Cougars stretched their 10-8 first-quarter lead to 27-8 at the half.

"We took the second quarter off and got out scored 17-0," Daubel said.

Shooting accuracy failed once again. The Knights shot only 19 percent overall and were 4-25 from the 3-point line and 1-6 from the free throw line.

"Like I have said in the past, we have to put a full 32 minutes together," Daubel said.

Araujo scored 13 points, and no other Knight got more than five. Ledezma led in rebounds with nine and steals with three. Araujo had three assists.