Ladies Downed by Reagan County
    by Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, December 8, 2006

The Reagan County Lady Owls have a head start on of the other schools in West Texas, and it showed on Tuesday night against the Monahans Lady Loboes.

"They've been playing basketball all year, and they looked good," said Loboes' coach Treasure Thaggard of Reagan County, which remains one of the few schools in West Texas without girls' volleyball.  "They made it to area last year before they got bounced out, so they've got a good, solid program, and they didn't miss a whole lot."

Reagan County post Kayla Armstrong was the main one not missing was the main one not missing much for the Owls.  She put in 24 points to lead her team to a 55-32 win over Monahans, which will face a couple of more tough tests on Friday, in the opening round of the Abilene Wylie Tournament.

Reagan County slowly pulled away in each quarter of Tuesday's game, grabbing a 9-4 lead after one period and a 24-15 lead at the half.  The Owls upped their margin to 16 point, at 40-24, after three periods.

"I felt we played them better than we did last year.  It showed me the kids are learning to do what we're supposed to do.  We just need more time on the court," Thaggard said.

Dina Ortiz had the Loboes' lone 3-point basket of the night and led Monahans with 11 points, while Catherine Cutbirth added 10 in the loss, while left Monahans with a 2-5 mark going into Friday's tournament games.

The Loboes will take on Lubbock Trinity in a 12:30 p.m. game in the six-team tournament, then will face Lubbock Cooper at 6:30 p.m.   Saturday's match-ups pool play results, with the Loboes playing at either 12:30, 3:30 or 6:30 p.m. for first, third or fifth place.

It's the second tournament of the season for Monahans, which placed second in their own tourney last weekend and will go back to Big Lake for the Reagan County Tournament over the Christmas holiday

"I think the kids are kind of tired right now, so we'll have a short practice today (Wednesday) and tomorrow, we'll work an defensive sets," Thaggard said.  "This is a pretty strong tournament, and the reason why I put us in it is because we've got to get ready for teams we might play in the playoffs."

Reagan county also won Tuesday's junior varsity game over Monahans, by a 23-18 score.