Harper out-shot Thorndale 9-0 in the first quarter of the Class 2A Area playoffs, which gave them enough of a lead to win the game 39-31 in Marble Fall last Friday.
Although the Lady Bulldogs played defense well and got defensive rebounds, they didn’t land many shots.
“The first quarter was Bulldogs 9-0 but you wouldn’t’ know it by watching the game,” said Coach Bradley Dickerson. “We were able to run our plays, but we just didn’t score any baskets.”
Part of the equation may have been Harper’s zone defense that slowed down the fast pace of Thorndale’s game. “We broke their press
“We broke their press with no problem. They stayed in their zone,” Dickerson said. “It might have been better if they stayed in the press. We did better against the press.
“A lot of the girls did things they don’t normally do. I don’t know if it was nerves or what. The whole game we were missing shots that we normally make,” he said.
THS outscored Harper in the second quarter 16-15 and kept up with them in the third 5-6. The Lady Bulldogs defense didn’t give up a single basket and outscored Harper in the fourth 10-9.
“In the fourth quarter they didn’t score, they got nine free throws,” Dickerson said. “They pulled the ball out and we started fouling to put them on the line.”
The Lady Horns, 25-8, nine point at the start was enough to keep them ahead the entire game. They advanced to play Mason in the Regional Quarterfinals on Tuesday in Fredericksburg.
NEXT YEAR – Thorndale, finished the season with a 15-7 overall record, will be losing three seniors to graduation – Ariana Anders, Sierra Winkler and Savana Taylor. Only Taylor started in Friday’s game. Winkler has been out most of the season with injuries.
“Anders was out sick,” Dickerson said. “She’s a good rebounder. She could have helped us on Friday.”
Juniors Ahsley Pesl, Javey Paulsen and Kiera Rash will help lead next year’s squad. Sophomores Emilee Baker, Makayla Lafferty, Riley Calk and Kelsey Kovar will be back as well as freshmen Abigail Dickerson, Kyndal Robinson, Tristyn Buchanan and Bailee Baker.
“We’ve got a lot of good sophomores and freshman. We also have a good eighth grade class coming up. We have a lot to be excited about next year.”
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