Somber Home Opener for Beaver Basketball

By Bucky Beaver

The boys and girls basketball teams played with heavy hearts in their home openers Friday night playing one day after the passing of their teacher, coach, and friend John Nygaard.  Mr. Nygaard coached many of the boys competing Friday night during his tenure as the JV and JVC boys’ basketball coach and he was a teacher and/or mentor to most of the students in the gym.  Both girls and boys JV and Varsity teams competed Friday night.  Prior to the boy’s varsity game the crowd remembered Mr. Nygaard with a moment of silence.  Most of the crowd was in red honoring John’s favorite color, Beaver red.  At halftime the student ASB threw Otter Pops to the crowd, one of Mr. Nygaard’s favorite treats he gave his students.

Photo courtesy Ed Tanaka, BHS Athletics

The boys varsity players wrote the names of the two coaches who have passed away in the past 9 months on the back of their shoes in their memory (John Nygaard and Gary Smith).

The players and spectators observing a moment of silence for John Nygaard’s passing. Photo courtesy Ed Tanaka, BHS Athletics

Girls Basketball

The girl’s varsity team played their second game of the season against Wenatchee Friday night.  The girls won their season opener Wednesday night at King’s High School 43-41.  Junior Shelby Bailess led the Beavers with 12 points and 9 rebounds in the victory over Kings.  In Friday night’s home opener the Beavers battled back and forth with the Panthers the entire game.  Both teams were tied at 28 and within 4 to 6 points in the second half.  Wenatchee eventually pulled away with a 52-48 win over Ballard.  Ballard was led in scoring by junior Nancy MacGeorge who had 18 points.  Bailess chipped in another dozen points followed by senior Riley Soukup who added 7 points.  The girl’s travel to the plateau for a game Wednesday night at Skyline and then end the week with a game at Newport on Friday night.

The girl’s JV and Varsity rosters, schedules and results can be found on their web site: www.girlshoops.ballardathletics.org

Boys Basketball

The boy’s varsity team came out strong against the Cleveland Eagles taking a 9 point first quarter lead and never looked back.  Ballard cruised to a 61-44 final score.  The Beavers had balanced scoring with four players in double figures.  Seniors Ray Owens, Johnny Verduin, and Seth Berger had 13, 12, and 12 points respectively.  Junior Chase Deger contributed 10 points in his first varsity game.  Berger had a double-double collecting 11 rebounds; Verduin added 8 rebounds as well.  Junior Darius George, also in his first varsity game had 4 assists.  The boy’s next game is Friday night at Newport High School.

The boy’s JVC, JV and Varsity rosters, schedules and results can be found on their web site: www.boyshoops.ballardathletics.org