HYDRO — Despite only having six girls play Thursday for No. 2 Hydro-Eakly, they defeated Tyrone 51-26.
Hydro-Eakly only had six players because of COVID-19 quarantining and contract tracing.
“We played well, but the mindset is just not there,” coach Jeremy Tharp said. “We are going to have to continue to fight though this and we will get back on track soon. It might take some time, but we will get there.”
The six girls who played for Hydro-Eakly were Macey Buss, Katey Buss, Kira Berkey, Rees Berkey, Rachel Barry and Casady Sublett played, even though she was not on the roster this season. Tharp asked her to play so he would have enough girls to play.
“I asked Casady to suit up for us since she used to play for us last season,” Tharp said. “She was club footed as a kid and has had surgeries to fix it. Playing basketball was hard on her and we agreed last season it might be best for her not to play. I went to the administration and asked them first and they said yes. When I asked her, she said yes and she has been really good for us and is a superstar.”
Hydro-Eakly got on a roll early and was ahead 14-4 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Bobcats also were ahead 25-12 at halftime.
The Lady Bobcats played good defense, only allowing 4 points in the third quarter and were ahead 39-16. They won the game 51-26, snapping their three-game losing streak. Rees Berkey scored 18 points and Kira Berkey scored 12 points. Macey Buss, Katey Buss and Barry each scored 7 points.
“After being in the Mustang tournament and this week of COVID-19 quarantine, we have gone through lots of adversity,” Tharp said. “We are just going to have to keep battling because we are not the only school going through this challenge.”
Tharp said COVID-19 is a challenge for people, not just student athletes, but even in life as well.
“This whole COVID-19 is a mental exhaustion for everyone,” Tharp said. “Kids are used to going all the time and that is not happening as much anymore. Kids only come to school in person twice a week because of the A and B schedules. Kids play video games now and spend more time on social media.”
The Lady Bobcats are currently playing in the 2021 Apache “Slick Hills” Festival. Tharp said he will play the same six girls.
“It is really simple, we must play as a team,” Tharp said. “Everything is different form the atmosphere and we have to stick together.