After playing three of the top teams in the South Sound Conference standings, the Yelm girls basketball team has started the new year in search of their first win of the season.
They face a tough task in their first matchup of 2023 as they go up against North Thurston, who is undefeated in SSC play.
The Tornados began their season 0-2 with losses to Gig Harbor (5-3, 4-0 in the SSC), and Timberline (6-4, 3-1 in the SSC). Both teams stand within the top four of the South Sound Conference standings as of Monday, Jan. 3.
Yelm’s early season schedule continued on Wednesday, Dec. 14 in their third SSC matchup against the Peninsula Seahawks on the road. Currently, the Seahawks sit third in SSC standings with a 3-1 record in conference play and a 7-1 record overall.
The Tornados offense struggled to score throughout the majority of the game. Going into halftime, Yelm scored just eight points and trailed 36-8.
In the second half of the game, Yelm’s offense was able to score eight points, but Peninsula’s offense continued to find the basket, scoring 19 in the third to extend their lead to 55-16.
Yelm’s offense had their highest scoring quarter of the game in the fourth, scoring nine points, but the Seahawks walked away with a 65-25 victory.
In their final matchup before Christmas break, the Tornados lost to Capital, 35-28, on the road in Olympia.
Yelm returned to action in a home matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 4, as they were set to host the North Thurston Rams. The Rams currently sit atop the SSC standings with a 4-0 record in conference play and an 8-1 record overall.
Then on Friday, Jan. 6, the Tornados will travel to Central Kitsap to face the Cougars, who currently sport a record of 1-3 in the SSC and 3-5 overall.
