Thorndale Lady Bulldogs gave Coach Bradley Dickerson his 500th win and assured themselves a trip to the area playoffs with their 62-44 victory over North Zulch on Tuesday night in Bryan.
The Bulldogs advanced to the Area round playoff in Marble Falls on Friday to take on Harper. Time to be announced.
In Tuesday’s Bulldog battle, the teams were tied at 10 apiece.
“Right before the half we went on a seven or eight point run and we up by seven at the half,” said Coach Dickerson. “We extended our lead in the third quarter and went back on another run in the fourth.”
THS outscored the Madison County Lady Bulldogs 35-24 in the second half.
Thorndale was ranked 60th in the state before Tuesday’s game by Max-Preps sports with its 13-6 record. MaxPreps is an online score reporting system based in California.
According to the Madisonville Meteor newspaper, North Zulch team personnel attended a tournament in Thorndale in December to prepare for the possibility of a postseason matchup.
“We are going to have to keep the tempo a little higher than what (Thorn-dale) wants,” said Coach Michael Stenseth to reporter Campbell Atkins before the matchup. “If we can do that, it will enhance our chances. But we need to make sure we handle their pressure without giving them too many chances for offensive rebounds, which can be difficult since they are bigger than us.”
North Zulch pressed the Lady Bulldogs the entire game but Dickerson said the team managed their defense well.
“They got tired and we didn’t,” he said.
CELEBRATION— Thorndale Superintendent Adam Ivy announced over the PA system that Dickerson had won the 500 game of his career, fans cheered and the team gave him a signed ball.
“It was a surprise. I didn’t even know about it. My assistant coach set it all up,” Dickerson said.
After their return trip from Bryan, the team surprised Dickerson again.
“When I opened the back door to the gym, I got confetti sprayed on my face,” he said. “I told the girls, when you’re getting up there in age like I am, you have to be careful with surprises like this.”
Dickerson amassed all but 24 of those victories in Thorndale. He was the Holland High School boys’ basketball coach at the beginning of his career.
HARPER—Thorndale will be playing the Lady-horns, who routed La Pry-or 69-23 on Monday, in the Class 2A Area round like last year. The Lady Bulldogs beat Harper 39-33 in last year’s matchup, but Dickerson isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Harper is going to be difficult. They have the same girls as before, they only lost a couple of players,” Dickerson said. “We have to do a good job of containing them.”
Thorndale 62, North Zulch 44
THS 10 17 17 18—62 NZH 10 10 16 8—44
THS – Points: Makayla Lafferty 16, Savanna Taylor 12, Ashley Pesl 10, Kyndal Robinson 8, Bailee Baker 6, Kiera Rash 5, Riley Calk 2, Kelsey Kovar 2, Abby Dickerson 1.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.