Roughrider girls start strong at Raider expense

Southwest's Kassidy Wilcox appears about ready to spot an open teammate in junior Caylin Barnett (left) during the Roughriders' win over Medicine Valley Thursday evening.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest’s famous 1-2 punch landed plenty of great shots throughout the 43-24 opening win over RPAC rival Medicine Valley Thursday.

Famous? They should be famous if you’re following area sports just like most know these Roughriders are going to be tough in basketball just like volleyball.

Juniors Bailey Truksa and Caylin Barnett were blazing again Thurdsay night — especially Truska as she hit four of seven three-point shots (57 percent) for her game-high 20 points.

Truksa hit 100 percent at the foul line where she finished four-for-four.

Barnett resumed her usual double-double duties with 17 points besides pulling down 14 rebounds.

Don’t forget the six steals to help Southwest avoid any drama like a last-second shot that beat the Raiders in Bartley two years ago.

Other Roughriders held Medicine Valley (0-1) to just 24 percent shooting. The Raiders were a rough 0-for-16 from three-point distance.

Sophomore Bryn Lampe swiped another four steals for Southwest.

Junior Milla Farr did hit four of her eight shots to total eight points along with sophomore Stella Heapy’s nine.

The Raiders showed their own defensive resistance as they blocked five Southwest shots.

Heapy and senior Kaylyn Roblee swatted away two apiece.

ROUGHRIDERS (43) — Bailey Truksa 20 points, Caylin Barnett 17, Bryn Lampe 4, Asia Gallegos 2. Three-pointers: Truksa 4, Barnett.

RAIDERS (24) — Stella Heapy 9, Milla Farr 8, Kaylyn Roblee 3, Sienna Houghtelling 2, Remmi Stout 2.

Both teams will be in the Cattle Trail next week.