Bi-District Playoff Game

We are so excited that we advanced to the state playoffs again this year; however, the game did not go as we had planned. Garland Naaman Forest is a great team that is well coached. However, they are beatable. We are a young team experience wise and we were rattled to be playing a great, experienced team and to be in a playoff game. Many of our girls looked like deer in headlights and literally were frozen in fear a few times. It was odd because they seemed ready for the game. We had gone over our game plan, we had scouted Naaman and were prepared to win. We wanted to stop their point guard who is a great player and recently signed with SMU. We limited her to 14 points... which is low for her; however, we let another player sneak in and get her points that she normally scores for her team.

We lost the first quarter 12-18 after starting sluggish. We had a great second half of the first quarter and went on a small 6-0 run.

We seemed to get nervous for some reason after we made a run and closed in on them some and went cold the second quarter. We lost 4-16. We threw the ball all over the gym, one turnover or mistake turned into five. We needed to settle down and relax. We knew there would be playoff jitters, but we did not realize how bad we would have them as a team.

Of the 13 we suited out; only 4 had played in our playoff games last year, and of those 4 only 2 had played major minutes. We had two freshman suited up and they were extremely nervous as well. DJ Sandidge really stepped up as a senior and played hard, left it all on the floor, and seemed to calm the waters some when she was on the floor.

After half time adjustments, Coach Matthews telling Kosi to get involved more, redirecting some of our passing decisions and shot decisions and a stern talking to; the girls came out strong and played hard. We only lost the third quarter 12-13. The second quarter was still plaguing us.

The fourth quarter we came out strong again, but we seemed to get foul after foul after foul called for stepping up our defense. They shot almost 30 free throws for the night to our 15. Not only did they get us in foul trouble, get to line, and get free throws; they also made almost all their free throws. In fact, the player that stepped up for the point guard shot 15 free throws alone... as much as our whole team, and she made 9 of the 15. They are great shooters and drivers and get teams in foul trouble easily. They really took care of business on the free throw line and defeated us 26-13 the fourth quarter. They only had 5 baskets, but they had a LOT of free throw attempts and makes.

We just started slow and scared and you cannot do that against great teams. We all have a playoff game under our belt now and I strongly believe we will go deep into the playoffs next year and gain valuable experience during off-season and summer play.

I am proud of the girls for dealing with so much adversity this year and making it to the playoffs. We dealt with everything imaginable and the girls never quit and always pushed when the going got tough. That is all I can ask for as a coach; that they never quit and go 100% all the time.

Notable Stats:
Hannah Wedding - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Kosi Ekwu - 11 points, 11 rebounds!!!, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 assist
Tierra Scott - 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 assists!!
Bridget O'Brien - 5 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound
DJ Sandidge - 6 rebounds, 2 points

PLAYOFF GAME INFORMATION

Playoff Game Information:

Level: Bi-District

Versus: Garland Naaman Forest (District 10-5A)

When: Monday February 15th, 2010

Time: 6:00pm

Where: Ellis Davis Fieldhouse in Dallas

**Note: Double header with Skyline and Garland Lakeview Centennial. They follow at 7:30pm.

WT White Game

Since we lost to Richardson; the girls knew they had to beat WT White to advance to the playoffs. There was no doubt in my mind that we would win. For one, it was senior night and I knew our team would play HARD for our seniors. For two, Tierra Scott was out because she got a stomach virus and I knew that her teammates would play for her as well.

The girls started out slow, and I think the seniors were somewhat still emotional from realizing it was their last home game at Lake Highlands High School. All three seniors started. I was nervous about Sam playing since she recently had her second ACL repair, but she promised me she would stay away from the action. I told her as soon as she had a shot to take it. I told her when she scored; she was coming out. I wanted her to score one last time on her home floor. She not only scored, she scored a BIG three from a foot off the three point line. It was pretty. Perfect form, nothing but net, and of course she shot 1 for 1 and was 100% on shooting for the night! I am so proud that she got to play one last time and score one last time as a senior!

The first quarter we won 13-11, the second quarter we won 17-7, the third quarter we won 18-7, and the fourth quarter we won 15-12. The girls did a great job in the second quarter to pull away before the half.

Bridget O'Brien and Hannah Wedding only played a little over half a game, but both stepped up in a big way to fill Tierra Scott's shoes. They both scored more than they usually do and Bridget O'Brien scored 19 points. This is not only her all-time high, but it is also our teams all-time high for this year. She filled it up and did a great job on defense and setting the tempo too.

Mary Potter also had a great game. She scored well and looked for her shot, but she also assisted her teammates. She had some great looks and passing angles. I was proud because we have struggled as a team with good passing and passing angles. She did a great job.

Notable Stats:
Bridget O'Brien - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Hannah Wedding - 17 points, 2 of 2 free throws = 100%, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists
Kosi Ekwu - 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal
Mary Potter - 8 points, 5 assists!!, 1 steal, 1 rebound

Richardson Game

The girls lost a heart breaker at Richardson by only 5 points as we just could not finish and seal the deal. We were leading after the first quarter 12-10. We tied up the second quarter at the buzzer with Hannah Wedding's long three pointer to make it 11 all. We went into half time up 23-21.

We came out after half time with a few adjustments and lost 8-11. We were down 31-32 going into the fourth quarter. However, Richardson was worried about our vast improvements this season and held the ball at half court. We were glad to see them do this because we had four of five starters with three or more fouls. We had two players on the bench with two fouls, and we were all in foul trouble as a team. So, we just waited. Richardson held the ball the whole fourth quarter. With 3:30 left we picked up man. I should have waited until about 2 minutes left, but I rushed our defense. It was my fault. We were in a one point game with them and I should have waited a little bit longer. But, we picked up and one of their players pushed off trying to guard the ball and got an offensive call. It was just what we needed. We got the ball back and I called a time out and drew up a play. We threw the ball away instantly by trying to throw it in to the wrong person. We threw it in to the last possible option, who was not open and Richardson got the ball back.

To make a long three minutes short; we had every opportunity to win and did not finish. We threw the ball away left and right. We had half our turnovers in the 4th quarter for the whole night. The girls were under pressure and many have not been in that situation before. We beat ourselves as we only scored a measly 3 points to their 7. They won 39-34.

Notable Stats:
Tierra Scottt - 11 points, 4 steals, 1 rebounds, 1 assist
Kosi Ekwu - 9 points, 10 rebounds!!, 2 blocks, 2 assists, 1 steal
Hannah Wedding - 5 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Bridget O'Brien - 5 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

District Standings (2 games left in district)

1st - Skyline 12-0

2nd - Richardson 9-3

2nd - Creekview 9-3

4th - Lake Highlands 7-5

5th - Berkner 6-6

6th - Sunset 3-9

7th - WT White 2-10

8th - Molina 0-12

Berkner Games = CLEAN SWEEP

All three of our teams beat the Berkner Lady Rams last night! The freshman started us off with a big win and a great game. The JV continued the sweep with an outstanding game and team play. And the Varsity sealed the deal beating Berkner 45-31.

Score by Quarters:
LH 14 15 11 5 45
B 2 14 5 10 31

The Varsity Lady Cats knew their playoff hopes were on the line. They went into the game tied with Berkner for the 4th place seed in district. Whoever won the game would be a game up and advance to the playoffs. The girls felt the pressure of winning, taking care of business on their home floor, and earning a spot in the playoffs, but the pressure only ignited a fire in them to WIN and WIN as a TEAM! They did just that...

Notable Stats:
Hannah Wedding - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks!!, 1 steal, 1 assist
Tierra Scott - 11 points, 9 steals!!!!, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Bridget O'Brien - 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 of 2 free throws
Kosi Ekwu - 8 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 4 steals!!!

Note: Tierra Scott did NOT injury herself when she went down at the end of the 3rd quarter after being fouled on her power lay-up. She was just cramping and that is why she did not play in the 4th quarter. Don't worry; she is ready for Richardson! : )

Sunset Game

The Lady Wildcats defeated Sunset 51-36. Our first group did a great job and set the tempo.

Score by Quarters:
LH 23 11 7 10
S 4 9 12 11

Bridget O'Brien pushed the ball well, did a great job on defense, and assisted her teammates with 7 total assists! I am thrilled to see Bridget really start to look and act like a true point guard. Her decision making is getting better and better from the point guard position and she is seeing the floor really well too.

Harlie Greer is also peaking at the right time. She went 5 of 5 from the field. I love to see good moves and inside shots. She was 100% from the block/paint. Great job Harlie!

Hannah Wedding also did an outstanding job inside and as a forward. She went 5 of 6 from the field.

Jessi Youman lit up the three point line and made 3 of 4 threes for 75%. Jessi has been working on her shot form and follow through. She has always made threes in practice and shot well outside, but sometimes it did not transfer to a game the way she had hoped. She transferred her shooting skills perfectly against Sunset. She had an overall great game with 5 boards and 2 steals. Good job Jess!

Notable Stats:
Hannah Wedding - 10 points, 5 of 6 FG, 8 rebounds, 1 assist
Harlie Greer -10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
Jessi Youman - 9 points, 5 rebounds!!, 2 steals, 1 assist
Bridget O'Brien - 8 points, 7 assists!!!!, 4 steals!!!!!, 2 rebounds