Talk about starting the season on a strong note. The Clarkston Bantams opened their 2017-2018 lady basketball season against Shadle Park, beating McTavish 60-42.
“It felt really good,” said senior, Anna Sharp. “Everything from the previous practices came together, and I could tell that we were going to have a good season.”
   Taking on an opponent familiar to the Bengals, Clarkston played Moscow at the Den and beat the bears 66-56, scoring more points than the Bengals did against the Bears, but also letting the Bears score more points.
  Going up against one of the tougher opponents in the Bantams’ league, the game against East Valley (Spokane) was a struggle. The Bantams fell to East Valley 58-69.
  For the first home game of the season, the Bantams took on Pullman Dec. 12, beating the Greyhounds 60-28.
  The Dec. 15 game against Lakeland was cancelled due to weather and road conditions.
  The Bantams played a familiar opponent Dec. 21, getting the same outcomes they did the first time. The lady Bantams beat McTavish 64-12.
  During winter vacation, CHS attended the Avista Holiday Tournament where they placed second overall. The Bantams fell to North Central 39-49 in the championship game. The wins that helped the ladies get to the finals included Wenatchee (59-42) and Lake City (50-47).
  Starting the New Year with a winning foot forward, Clarkston beat West Valley (Spokane) 59-49 Jan. 3.
  Continuing the winning streak, the Bantams beat the Cheney Blackhawks 55-42 Jan. 5, at home.
  Holding another game at home, Jan. 9, the Bantams beat East Valley 57-55. The Bantams kept the margins close for the second time this season, but freshman Ashlyn Wallace knew the pressure was on. In the last seconds of the game, Wallace stole the ball, securing the Bantams’ win.
  Playing the Pullman Greyhounds for the second time this season, the Bantams set their hopes high for another win and that is just what they got. On Jan. 12, CHS beat PHS 65-45.
   On Jan. 19, CHS invited West Valley to play at the chicken coop. The Bantams beat the Eagles 52-43.
  Playing Cheney again Jan. 20, the Bantams had a familiar outcome. They beat the Blackhawks 62-45.
  The scores against East Valley Jan. 23 and Pullman Jan. 24 were not available at press time.