8th Grade Lady Cougar Basketball Opens Season With Back-to-Back Victories

November 9, 2026 – The eighth-grade Lady Cougars opened their basketball season with a pair of victories, defeating Pine Tree 49-37 on Monday before returning home Thursday to earn a 47-20 win over Christian Heritage.

The Lady Cougars welcomed a tough Pine Tree team in their season opener and used a strong defensive effort to pull away in the second half. Leading by just four points, the Lady Cougars put together a 14-4 run in the third quarter to extend their advantage and secure the 49-37 victory.

Ellie Gillen led a balanced scoring effort with 12 points. Stella Ramirez added 10 points, while Kathrine Proctor and Hannah Jenks contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

On Thursday, the Lady Cougars hosted Christian Heritage and overcame a slow start with an impressive response. After a competitive opening quarter, the Lady Cougars outscored Christian Heritage 40-15 over the final three quarters to earn a 47-20 victory.

The Lady Cougars’ defensive pressure helped set the tone, with Emma Hird and Rylee Hamer creating disruption at the front of the press. Both players also contributed a basket as the team continued to build its lead.

Eight Lady Cougars scored in the contest, led by Gillen with 11 points. Claire Foreman added 10 points, while Ramirez finished with eight.

Jenks also turned in a strong all-around performance, controlling the pace of the game, distributing the ball and providing tough on-ball defense while adding six points.

The Lady Cougars will look to continue their strong start Tuesday when they host Regents. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the team will travel to Sabine to compete in a tournament.