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One more hurdle before showdown
January 28, 2008If you know anything about the way Vernon head coach Ronda Havins does business, then you already know her Lady Lions have no intention of becoming a footnote in this season's District 6-3A playoff race.
A successful trip to Hirschi Fieldhouse Tuesday night on Vernon's part can take some of the luster off the Lady Huskies' Friday night district-title showdown at Burkburnett's Bulldog Gym.
The title would still be up for grabs, but then both teams (and not just Burkburnett) would be coming in off a loss to Vernon.
Vernon (12-12, 2-3) jumped back into playoff consideration with a 52-44 win over the Lady Bulldogs (13-14, 5-1) last Friday night and could ruin the Lady Huskies' worst-to-first run this season with a similar effort.
On paper, it shouldn't happen.
Hirschi (20-9, 5-1) certainly has more athletic ability than Vernon, but also has an Achilles' heel in its frequently sub-par free-throw shooting.
So, if Vernon can keep the Lady Huskies off the boards the same way they did against Burkburnett and dictate a pace that results in some late-game shots from the line, they could win.
Posted by Stephen Smith at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
In poor taste...
January 23, 2008Already leading 52-33 with a little over a minute left to play at Coyotes Fieldhouse Tuesday night, Denton Ryan coach Monesha Allen called a time-out to allow her players to whoop it up a bit with a win over Wichita Falls High School already well in-hand.
Perhaps she felt her players deserved it after absorbing a 60-54 loss to the Lady Coyotes earlier in the season. But for the preseason district favorite to behave in that fashion came across as pretty bush league -- especially after the high-quality performance they had just put on.
It was almost like getting your banana-split made just the way you like it and getting a freaking pickle stuck on top at the end.
Or, at least that's how I saw it.
With the possibility looming that the two teams could meet again with a district title on the line, it's just a rather unnecessary move that could have dire consequences later on.
Time will tell.
Posted by Stephen Smith at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
New high at Old High
January 22, 2008Wichita Falls High School girls coach Joe Golding says he didn't see this 20-plus win season coming, but here it is.
The Lady Coyotes have a chance to virtually wrap up the District 5-4A title if they can get a win tonight over Denton Ryan. But, they'll have to do it without sophomore Rebekah Cluley, who'll miss the game with a knee injury.
Obviously, Golding has a plan and obviously, he's not saying what it entails.
I've always said that if I had to win one game, I'd pick Golding as my coach -- now, as the rubber meets the road, we'll see if this is one of those times.
Posted by Stephen Smith at 01:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Up-and-comers and a little redemption
January 19, 2008New day at Rider
Rider Lady Raiders basketball has been so far off the radar for the past two decades that we had to consult a former sports writer to find out when their last playoff trip was because the WFISD had no record of one.
That won't be the case much longer as Rider coach Jeff Martin continues to mold the program.
A 9-14 overall record and a 2-6 mark in District 5-4A ensures the playoff draught will run through 2007-08, but there have been enough flashes to believe its end is in sight.
Junior Samantha Smith (11.1 ppg.), along with talented freshmen Sammi Hislop, Lauren Hayley and Ashley Zimpel, will all return next season when Rider -- and, you heard it here first -- may even challenge for the district crown.
Fast times at Hirschi
Sporting their best record since the 2005-06 season, the Hirschi Lady Huskies are back in playoff form this season at 18-9, 3-1. But, there's still plenty of work to be done.
Despite a probable 20-win season, this team is still young and a far cry from the Tori Slusher/Ashley Davis-led teams that reached the regional semis two seasons ago.
Hirschi's youth showed last Tuesday night when Burkburnett (12-14, 3-0) - a less physically-gifted team - used free throws to run away with a win that may eventually give them the district title.
That is, unless coach Leta Lofton and her team can find a way to steal one in Burkburnett in two weeks.
Still, a playoff trip is imminent and that's a lot better than last season's 5-19 showing in Hirschi's first season without Slusher, Davis, Stephanie Plante and Valisha Jones running the floor.
Posted by Stephen Smith at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
