Lady Bobcats, Mustangs ready for regional tests

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Lady Bobcats, Mustangs ready for regional tests

Gabe Pruett

The Orange Leader

For the second consecutive year, the West Orange-Stark Lady Mustangs and the No. 12 Orangefield Lady Bobcats will make their home in Huntsville for a weekend.

Both squads are looking to avenge last season’s early exit in the Class 3A Region III final’s tournament.

The Lady Bobcats will start things off at 6:15 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum at Sam Houston State University when they face the No. 7 Diboll Lady Lumberjacks (25-5).

WO-S (23-8) will face No. 17 Crockett (28-6) at 8 p.m. at the Johnson Coliseum.

Both teams are fighting to reach the Regional Final which will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The semifinals pits two District 20-3A teams vs. two District 21-3A squads.

LADY BOBCATS

Orangefield brings a high energy game into their semi-final contest with more than just a few players peaking at the right time.

The Lady Bobcats strength in the playoffs has been their depth and defense.

From top to bottom, Coach Sondra Ancelot’s team is full of players ready to step up and give an extra boost even if it is for a few minutes of game time.

The Lady Bobcats will have to deal with the Lady Lumberjacks and their 6’4 post Nikki Greene.

Diboll was a 51-44 winner over the Madisonville Lady Mustangs in the regional quarterfinals.

The Lady Jacks got 15 points from both Vanessa Jones and Mone Deason. Greene put in nine points in the victory.

Greene also had 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Matching up against a tall post presence does not worry Ancelot who has seen her team face WO-S’ Janea Hendreson and Lumberton’s Courtney Wilson already this season.

“The key for us going is to continue to play our normal game and press and run,†Ancelot said. “I am real proud of what these girls have accomplished but it is time to concentrate on Diboll. It is time to refocus. Diboll played Madisonville in Huntsville so they have a little experience being there but we were there last year so we have ours.â€

Ancelot was up late Wednesday night watching film on Diboll and woke up early Thursday to start the process all over again.

“I have a good feel of what to expect,†Ancelot said. “They are very similar to what we have been seeing in the playoffs. They are athletic and very fast.â€

Orangefield started its playoff push with a 80-48 whipping of Coldspring and then defeated previously 30-0 West Columbia 62-37. The Lady Bobcats took down the Cleveland Lady Indians 66-51 on Wednesday to reach the regional tournament.

Diboll, the champions of District 20-3A with a 13-1 mark, had a bye in the bi-district round and beat Lorena 58-41 in the area round.

One advantage Ancelot has seen growing by the dozens over the last few weeks is the size and volume of the Orangefield crowds.

“Our crowd has simply been amazing,†Ancelot said. “Last night (Wednesday) in Vidor was electrifying. It was the greatest atmosphere I have seen in a long time. It definitely helps our girls and gives us a big advantage.

“We want to see those people in Huntsville. All the kids talk about is getting there and making up for last year. We lost by 1 point to the state champion. We can’t get that feeling out of our guts. Now the chance to get rid of it has presented itself and we hope to take advantage.â€

LADY MUSTANGS

It is back to work for WO-S in their game of “proving people wrong.â€

The Lady Mustangs entered the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder when they were unranked and being the third place team out of District 21-3A.

So first WO-S took their anger out on Liberty by a tune of 57-22 in the bi-district round.

Up next was a 46-41 victory over No. 5 Navasota in the area round and then there was Wednesday’s 79-74 win over No. 9 Silsbee.

To say the least, WO-S is so far getting their revenge. “The girls are very excited,†WO-S coach Callie Orebo said. “We are tying to do something we have never done.â€

Orebo stayed to her strategy of not knowing anything about her opponent. It was a first coming into this year’s playoffs but it is hard to argue with the results so far.

“I think it is best to leave it alone with how well it has worked so far,†Orebo explained. “It has been great so far with not being ranked. I am loving it.â€

Lady Mustang senior guard Brittney Scott is the main reason for WO-S’ attack with a scoring average of 35 points a game in the playoffs, 49 coming against Silsbee.

While Scott has been the focal point, the rest of the Lady Mustangs are stepping up their game at the right time.

Seniors Dominique Riggs and Rebecca McMillion are grabbing important rebounds while sophomore Kia Hartfield continues her streak of burying big shots.

Senior post Janea Hendreson, who did not require stitches after suffering an eye injury Wednesday, is being her usual self by putting in tough points and averaging double-digit rebounds in the playoffs.

“We just can’t go into the gym and have playoff syndrome,†Orebo said. “We have to go out there with open minds and realize it is just a game. We will do fine. If we go to Huntsville and get two wins, they will have to put me in a crazy house.â€

The Lady Bulldogs come in fresh off a 53-48 victory over Fairfield in the regional quarterfinals. They desposed of China Spring, last year’s state champion, in the area round 54-53 and took care of Groesbeck 66-37

In other WO-S news, a bus will leave Kroger parking lot at 4:30 p.m. to head to Huntsville.

The cost is $13 a person. Contact Martha Morrow at 886-0651 or at 330-1655.