Whitehorse girls basketball team caps successful season with a win in state consolation play

by David Boyle
News Director
The Whitehorse Lady Raiders played three days at the 1A Utah State Basketball Tournament this past weekend in Richfield to close out a successful season.
The #13 seed Lady Raiders were defeated 57-41 against eventual champion Wayne in the second round of the tournament on Wednesday, March 1. 
The girls trailed 15-11 after one quarter and 28-21 at halftime. The score was 41-33 after three quarters with the final score favoring the Badgers 57-41.
In the game, the Lady Raiders were led in scoring by guard Heidi Clark who recorded 11 points. Lamyia Benally scored eight while Kiera Chee had seven. Shunbaah Begay scored five and Laila Etsitty scored four while Shelby Vasku and Shayla Miller both had two points in the game. 
Vasku and Chee led WHS on the boards with Vasku recording nine rebounds and Chee pulling down eight. Begay recorded three assists and three steals with teammate Clark also recording three steals in the second-round loss.
On the second day of the tournament, Whitehorse bounced back to defeat Altamont 53-45 in the sixth-place quarterfinals. The Longhorns built an 11-10 lead after one quarter but the Whitehorse girls took a 24-19 lead at halftime. The Raiders held the lead 38-35 after three quarters and made shots down the stretch to secure the 53-45 win.
Whitehorse was led in the game by Shunbaah Begay who finished with 15 points, while Miller added ten. Clark scored eight while Vasku and Mitchel each had six points and Benally scored four. 
In the sixth-place semis on Friday, March 3 Whitehorse was defeated by Manila 58-52. The Lady Raiders trailed 16-4 after one quarter and 29-16 at halftime. In the third quarter, the girls closed the gap to 42-35 and even took a lead late in the game, but the Mustangs retook the lead and won the game 58-52.
Heidi Clark led Whitehorse scoring with 12 points. Chee scored eight, while Shunbaah Begay and Shayla Miller each scored six points. Benally had five points while Vasku and Etsitty each had four points.
Also scoring two points for the Raiders were Dakotah Cly, Kadence Lansing, and Harmony Thomas, and Shania Mitchell scored one point.
Whitehorse seniors include Shelby Vasku, Deiondra Billjohn, LewNeil Hascon, and Shania Mitchell.
The Lady Raiders finished the season with a 10-15 overall record. They finished second in Region 23 and were one win away from placing at state.

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