Lady Trojans impressive in opener

You could not have asked for a better start to the opening game of the season for the Whitehall High School girls basketball team. The Lady Trojans scored the first 16 points of their Saturday game against visiting Manhattan Christian on their way to a 49-29 victory.

"Coming out to a new season you could have not been more excited to see that kind of start," head coach Kelly Nieskens said.

Whitehall would take a 19-3 lead after first quarter and was sparked by two new members of the team, eighth grader Jada Clarkson and freshman Brynna Wolfe. The two combined for 16 points in the first quarter. Wolfe led the team in scoring for the game with 12 and Clarkson had 11. Nieskens said Clarkson just loves basketball and her and Wolfe make each others jobs easier.

"They have a lot of basketball IQ between the two of them. When you have two guards like that who can break down the offense and pass off to Asha (Noyes) and some of the other girls it just makes everything easier from a coaching staff.

Nieskens added the Lady Trojans had two eighth graders and a freshman who played a lot of minutes and they were ready for it.

"They said how exciting it was to come and play a high school game," he said.

After the strong start, Whitehall would be outscored 12-7 in the second quarter and took a 26-15 lead into the half.

Nieskens said the second quarter gave his team some things they need to work and said the team also had foul trouble in the first half. He was pleased with the way to the team was able to extend the lead in the second half.

Noyes had seven points, Kendra Klapan and Meagan Johnson each had six, and eighth grader Maxine Hoagland added three points.

The Lady Trojans will next compete at a tournament December 7 and 8 in Manhattan. They will play Deer Lodge Friday and Ennis Saturday.