BIG PINEY – The Big Piney Lady Punchers basketball team won the first quarter against the Kemmerer Lady Rangers during the first home conference game of the season on Friday, Jan. 13.

The Kemmerer defense turned up the heat in the second quarter, stalling Big Piney’s offensive momentum, and the Lady Rangers took the lead, 17-11, at halftime.

Rallying in the third quarter, Big Piney began to battle back and nearly matched Kemmerer in scoring through a physical, point-for-point fourth quarter. Ultimately, despite the Lady Punchers’ determination, Kemmerer maintained the lead to score a 41-27 win.

Big Piney outmaneuvered the Lady Rangers in a strong first quarter. Sophomore Micah Strong opened scoring for the Lady Punchers with a close-range shot. Senior Shelby Guest sunk a layup.

Fellow senior Hannah Runyan blocked Kemmerer’s attempt to score. Senior Sharianne Brower netted a deep 3-pointer.

Rounding out the quarter, senior Rayne Wheeler broke through the perimeter to score.

Big Piney led, 9-8, as the second quarter commenced.

The Kemmerer defense closed ranks in the second quarter. Runyan netted the only points for Big Piney. Wheeler and Runyan both rustled steals.

Kemmerer led, 17-11, at halftime.

The Lady Rangers scored 15 points in the third quarter with Big Piney netting 9.

Runyan sunk a close-range shot and scored a point on the charity stripe. Wheeler made a pair of free throws.

Kemmerer went on a scoring run and widened its lead to 16 points. The Lady Punchers began to close the gap with a layup from sophomore Sienna Whiterock and a jumper by Wheeler.

Big Piney came close to matching Kemmerer in scoring during the fourth quarter, tossing in 7 points to 9 by the Lady Rangers.

Runyan made a shot from the free-throw line. Strong rebounded a missed free throw by Kemmerer and sunk a close-range shot, closing the deficit to 9 points.

Strong snatched a steal and scored a layup. Wheeler netted a jumper.

Wheeler led Big Piney in scoring against Kemmerer with 8 points. Strong and Runyan both contributed 6 points with 3 from Brower and 2 apiece from Guest and Whiterock.

The Lady Punchers get a chance at redemption this weekend as they travel for conference games against St. Stephens on Friday, Jan. 20, and Wyoming Indian High School on Saturday, Jan. 21.