Ten sisters power Nighthawks

Five sets of sisters played for the Tekoa-Oakesdale varsity basketball team this month over three games. The younger ones were eighth-graders brought up from the junior varsity, from which they were summoned because of low numbers of high school players.

Before the Pomeroy game Jan. 11 four Nighthawk varsity players were suspended for an athletic code violation, while a fifth one was out due to a concussion.

Five sets of sisters played in three recent games for the Tekoa-Oakesdale Nighthawks. Bottom row is the younger ones, while the top row is the older. Left to right, bottom, Lindsey Lindgren, Kynlee Dub, Tatiana Mendoza, Nikki Overton and Jacey Johnson, Top row, left to right, Alexa Lindgren, Kayler Dub, Cassie Mendoza, Alex Overton and Mattie Jo Johnson.

As a result, the eighth-graders moved up to playing high school varsity with five of their older sisters. All together, the siblings played in games against Potlatch, LaCrosse-Washtucna and Pomeroy.

During their time on varsity, the young ones participated in several practices at 5:30 a.m. before school. It had to be scheduled then to avoid a conflict with the girls’ junior high volleyball practices, which began Jan. 2.

The eighth-grade girls’ high school basketball season is now over, after several reached their limit of quarters played in a game against Colton last week.

Eighth-graders playing at the high school level are only permitted to play in 80 quarters in a season.