Raptors use long bench to best FDL

With nine players contributing points, the Carlton/Wrenshall Raptors girls basketball team secured a 56-23 win over the Fond du Lac Ogichidaag last week.

"This is the most amount of players we've ever had," said Raptors coach Emma Grover. "We have 33 kids out in grades 7-12 and we have 12 total on our varsity roster. For us, those are awesome numbers."

Myleena Ojibway led the Raptors with 16 points and was the lone Raptor in double-digit scoring. Raina Shabaish had 11 points for FDL in the Nov. 26 game.

"We are a very young team, and we saw good improvement from our first game against Ogilvie to the second game against Carlton/Wrenshall," said Ogichidaag head coach Kayla Jackson. "Despite the loss, I saw a lot of growth and I am very encouraged by how hard our girls are working to get better each and every day."

Carlton/Wrenshall's depth proved to be too much for Fond du Lac as Grover was able to get scoring from across the lineup. Also scoring for the Raptors were Sophie Collins and Brielle Simula, each with 8 points. Auna Johnson and Liz Johnson scored 5 points each while Molli Williams recorded 6 points. Lydia Kiehl, Faith Solomon and

Reeanna Defoe scored 2 points each.

"A lot of our girls have been playing together since grade school, and all of them have been together for the past two seasons since the merger of the two schools' sports programs," Grover said. "Against Fond du Lac we were able to get an early lead, which allowed us to get everyone in the game."

Joining Raina Shabaish on the score sheet for the Ogichidaag were NataLea Reynolds with 6 points, Tiara Shabaish with 4 points and Callie Misquadace with 2 points.

"Our depth will get better this week when we get Naveah Defoe back, who has been out with an injury," Jackson said. "The girls are learning to communicate and they are learning to work together."

Carlton/Wrenshall also played on Monday night in Wrenshall, where they picked up their second win of the season over Greenway, 46-37. Simula led the scoring parade with 23 points. Ojibway had 7 points, Laura Rubesh added 6 points. Sara Cid scored 5 points, Reeanna Defoe 3 points, and Liz Johnson two points.

The Raptors are now 2-1.

The Ogichidaag are 0-3 after a loss to Bayfield in Wisconsin Monday and were scheduled to play Thursday against

Littlefork-Big Falls.