A young Enumclaw High girls basketball team, which seems to be improving with each passing week, enhanced its South Puget Sound League 3A mark to 2-5 with a 54-42 victory over Franklin Pierce Jan. 12.

Coach Beth Madill called the home victory against the Cardinal girls the finest overall team effort of the season thus far, exclaiming that in her mind the Hornet girls have caught up to the fast-paced varsity level of basketball.

“We pretty much set the tone of the game as a lot of our offense was created off of our defensive play,” she said. “What was really exciting was that every member of the team scored at least some points.”

Some scored more than others, as 6-foot junior post Katina Ferguson accounted for a dozen, going 6-for-8 from the floor. Additionally, Ferguson was responsible for nine rebounds, two steals, three assists and a two blocked shots.

The Hornet girls’ next outing was also played on EHS’ floor, but against a superior foe Friday. (See separate story for details of the White River contest.)

“I told Chris Gibson what an honor it was to go up against a top notch coach like him. He really sets the bar high as his well oiled team executes his game plans to perfection most of the time,” said Madill, who played for Enumclaw and faced the veteran Gibson’s clubs.

Enumclaw’s girls have a tough row to hoe this week as they embark upon the second round of the regular season. Enumclaw already visited an excellent Bonney Lake squad Tuesday, with results coming too late to report here and plays host to Sumner Friday.