The abbreviated basketball seasons for both seventh and eighth grade girls ended last week.
The Perry grade 7 squad finished 5-2, with the grade 8 team unable to crack the win column. Matt Hardy, assisted by Tony Oros, oversees the younger team, with Zach Cole, assisted by Gary Iles, coaching the eighth grade squad.
The seventh grade Jayettes competed with only eight players, and despite the short roster won by double digits in each of their five victories. Their lone losses were in overtime at Ballard and against visiting ADM when Perry was without their leading scorer.
The eighth grade Jayettes played with an A team, a B team and, at times, a C squad as well. The roster size of the competition determined how many grade 8 units played in each slated outing.
Hardy, who coached the older girls the prior year, saluted their determination in coming out for another season and hoped they would do so again as freshmen. He noted that of the entire roster, only one girl had ever played a competitive game of basketball when they started their season as seventh graders.
The coach also noted the positive approach and dedication to improving their skills displayed by the current seventh grade team. He urged to continue working and to play again for Perry as eighth graders.
Ashlyn Atkins, Reygan Baldwin, Yamileth Gonzalez, Alejandra Hernandez, Charity Parnell, Ali Spitler, Ada Webb, and Karagyn Whelchel played for the seventh grade Jayettes.
The roster for the eighth grade included Maria Aguilar, Cynthia Aguirre, Sandra Alvayero, Natalie Catillo, Luz Cruz, Amy Diaz, Willow Flowers, Quinn Mahler-Moreno, Julie Maylum, Taryn Nehring, Melisa Ortega, Litzy Ramirez, Yaretzy Riquelma-Ibarra, Miley Sanchez, Brissa Sandoval, and Yasmin Tapia.
