By Corey Wiscomb,

Sounder contributor

The Orcas Girls’ Basketball team has been showing grit lately. With an already minimal bench of substitutes for the varsity team, it didn’t help things when starters Ava Ashcraft and Sera Knapp had to sit out with injuries. The situation left Coach Sack with only one substitute on the bench. And while the remaining players poured their heart into Thursday’s conference game against Mount Vernon Christian, they were simply overwhelmed by the size and constant fresh legs pressing them all game long. Orcas fell 21-60.

That kind of pounding can have a lasting effect on players, but this team is composed of State Volleyball players and athletes that have experienced success before. They don’t fold that easily. It shows a promise for the near future. Led by Junior Bethany Carther and Sophomore Lili Malo, the Vikings next played a defensive battle just two days later in which they ousted a larger school, Granite Falls, in a non-conference contest. The final score was 29-20 and a nice win for the Vikings. Great play also came from junior Milana Schneider and freshman Sofia Mahony-Jauragui.

The next game will be a home event against the longtime rival Darrington Loggers in a conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Should the Vikings be victorious in this game they will begin to lock in a spot for playoffs, which hopefully, will happen right as injured players are returning to full strength and ready to hit the floor.