8A: The 8A Belton Middle School Girls Basketball team earned their first win of the season in dominant fashion, defeating Bonham Middle School 35–3 with an impressive all-around team effort. The Tigers showed noticeable growth on offense, using strong upfakes and jab steps to create scoring opportunities. After rebounds, the girls made consistent and safe outlet passes and demonstrated great basketball IQ by knowing when to slow the game down or push the fast break. Defensively, it was a complete team performance, as every player contributed to locking down Bonham’s offense from start to finish. Ava Baggett was a key spark for Belton’s press, collecting several steals that led to points. She played lockdown defense all night and added two points on offense. Ynissa Wightman hustled on both ends of the floor, played strong defense, and contributed two points. Jalynne Prado also scored two points and brought relentless energy, sprinting the floor, hustling, and getting on the ground to sacrifice for her team. Adilynn Collins stepped in at point guard and did a great job protecting the ball, making smart passes, and pestering the opposing team defensively. Finley Burney showed confidence with her upfakes and strong drives while providing great defensive hustle. Alivia Martinez made a big impact with her intense defense, incredible effort, and willingness to be a great teammate, creating constant pressure for Bonham. Emily Potts led the Tigers with ten points while keeping the offense flowing and successfully playing both post and guard positions. Grace Thomas added seven points and had an outstanding night blocking shots, rebounding, and finishing putbacks around the basket. Ayani Ortiz also scored seven points, boxed out effectively, and used great offensive moves to score. Soley Torres chipped in five points, highlighted by a strong and-one finish to get to the foul line, and backed it up with a great defensive performance. This complete performance highlighted the Tigers’ growth, teamwork, and defensive intensity as they celebrated their first win of the season in impressive fashion. 8B: The 8B Lady Tigers faced a tough loss in their first game back after a break, but their effort, determination, and teamwork never wavered. Getting back into the game rhythm is never easy, yet the girls gave it their all from start to finish. Leading the team was Kylie Capella, who played multiple positions and proved to be a constant presence on both ends of the court. She was the top scorer with 5 points, fearlessly taking contact and attacking the basket to earn trips to the free throw line. Her versatility and leadership kept the Lady Tigers competitive throughout the game. Jaliza Anderson followed as the second-highest scorer with 4 points. She was relentless on defense, stealing the ball multiple times and driving aggressively to the basket. Her quickness and determination created scoring opportunities and kept the pressure on the opposing team. Averi Lozano also stood out with her defensive intensity. She was a true defensive machine, working tirelessly to disrupt plays, challenge shots, and make things difficult for the other team. Although the final score didn’t go their way, the Lady Tigers showed heart, hustle, and resilience. This game was a strong step forward as they shake off the rust and prepare for what’s ahead. With this level of effort, growth is right around the corner. 7A: The Belton Tigers 7th grade basketball team faced a tough challenge this week in a hard-fought battle against Bonham Middle School. On the offensive end, Emily Munoz had a standout performance, leading the team with 6 points. However, her impact went far beyond the scoreboard; Emily was a force on the defensive end, consistently providing crucial help defense and anchoring the team with her vocal leadership and court communication. Joining her in the spotlight was Eden McCullum, who contributed 2 points and dominated the glass. Eden’s relentless effort in crashing the boards earned the Tigers multiple second-chance opportunities and energized her teammates throughout the night. This game served as a powerful learning experience for the entire roster. The Tigers saw firsthand the importance of staying connected on defense and executing under pressure. Rather than letting the loss discourage them, the girls are using it as fuel to get back to work. With a big tournament in Jarrell this weekend and a highly anticipated matchup against Midway coming up, the Belton Tigers are focused on refining their skills and returning to the court better than ever. 7B: The 7B squad delivered an impressive performance against Bonham, showing poise and determination against a tough defensive team. Chandler Depue led the scoring effort, putting up 8 strong points and setting the tone with confident, aggressive play. Her ability to finish through contact made a big impact and kept the momentum on Belton’s side throughout the game. Inside the paint, Ourania Guardiola was a force, using her post skills to battle down low, create scoring opportunities, and draw defenders in. Her physical presence opened up the floor for her teammates. Rounding out the standout performances, A’rihanna Baker showed off her athleticism and confidence, knocking down shots from long range and stretching the defense. Together, these athletes fueled a complete team effort and secured a hard-earned win for 7B.