After snapping its four-game losing streak Feb. 5, the Arlington girls basketball team got back to work Monday and Tuesday against Syracuse and Plattsmouth.
The Eagles (8-12 overall) fell at home to the Rockets 52-28 Monday before traveling and defeating the Blue Devils 47-39 on Tuesday.
Against Syracuse, senior Kylee Bruning did all she could during the first half to keep her team in the game. The guard scored every one of the Eagles' 12 points, remaining the only AHS player to score until Kailynn Gubbels knocked down a pair of free throws with just 1:42 left during the third period.
Bruning said veteran experience helped her stay effective against the the 16-3 Rockets while her teammates struggled offensively.
“Sometimes, being such a young team, we're like, 'Oh. We have to run set plays. We have to run it the same way every time,'” the senior said. “And I, playing with older girls when I was younger, I kind of realized that sometimes you just have to go to the open spot. That's what helped me.”
Bruning scored Arlington's first point on a foul shot with 1:13 left in the 8-1 first period before knocking down her first 3-pointer with 6:39 left in the second. She notched two more long-range makes at 4:42 and the 46-second mark, sandwiching her made layup with 3:39 remaining.
While Bruning scored a team-high 14 points during the Eagles' 34-point loss, Gubbels had six, Kate Miller had four, and both Cassidy Arp and Bailey Taylor scored two.
Bruning said her team did better to find open spots during the second half.
A day later against Plattsmouth, coach Luke Brenn's squad scored 47 points during an eight-point win over the Devils.
According to GameChanger, Bruning led the Eagles with 12 points. Keelianne Green and Miller, meanwhile, scored eight as AHS picked up its eighth win of the season. It led 26-21 at halftime and pushed that advantage to nine over the final 16 minutes.
The contest was Bruning's second to last during her final regular season. The guard said she has on-court goals for herself and teammates, but, ultimately, she's wants to take in the moment in time.
“I just, honestly, want to enjoy the last few games of my season,” Bruning said. “My career.”
