OKANOGAN – The score wasn’t pretty, but Oroville girls basketball coach Mike Bourn was pleased with his team’s play in a 71-35 loss at Caribou Trail League favorite Okanogan on Thursday, Dec. 8.

“We really didn’t go down there thinking we were going to pull off some big upset,” Bourn said. “Okanogan is loaded, and we wanted to give all of our players a chance to show their stuff.”

Bourn had been disappointed in his team’s performance at Tonasket the previous week, but saw much more of the team he expected to have at the start of the season.

“We were up 22-21 with a minute or two left in the half,” he said. “The girls played them tough.

“After a time out we went to a 1-2-2 zone, and we didn’t get out on them fast enough. They burned us with a few long ones.”

Kelsey Hughes led the Hornets (1-2) with 14 points, and Bourn said she played solid defense as well. Freshman Lily Hilderbrand played her best game of the young season with a team-high 10 rebounds.

Tyler Schreckengost led Okanogan (3-0) with 20 points.

“The girls never quit fighting,” Bourn said. “I was happy with their effort.”