Schools
Sprayberry Girls Qualify for State Playoffs in Overtime
Lady Jackets defeat Kell in Region 5-AAAA playoffs, advance to play Douglas County.
Basketball can be a frustrating game. For 47 minutes in Tuesday’s Region 5-AAAA playoff game at Douglas County High School the Sprayberry Lady Jackets and their head coach Mark Giles were extremely frustrated. “We just couldn’t make any shots, neither team could,” said Giles.
The Kell Lady Longhorns held Sprayberry to 15 points through the first three quarters, including a two-point third quarter. With only eight minutes left to play Kell had a 20-25 lead and seemingly a ticket to the state playoffs.
But frustration can go both ways.
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The Lady Longhorns built their biggest lead of seven points with less than a minute to go in the game. Spirited play by sophomore Naomi Stuger led Kell as she finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sprayberry began to foul in an effort to stop the clock and regain possession of the ball. The Lady Longhorns could not make their free throws and the Lady Jackets began to chip away.
After one of the free-throw misses, Sprayberry freshman Lexii Cassell (11 points, 16 rebounds) hit an open 3-pointer to tie the game with seven seconds to go.
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“For a 14-year old girl to go out and play like that, that’s special,” said coach Giles. After Kell lost the ball and a half court Sprayberry prayer just missed, the game went to overtime, 29-29.
In the overtime, Carly Ridge of Sprayberry hit an early three-pointer and Nadia Ogene, who registered a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, connected on three of her four free throws to seal the victory. A late runner from Kell’s Emily Dixon went off the rim and Sprayberry gained a berth in the state playoffs, winning 37-34.
“Disappointing outcome, but I couldn’t be more proud of my girls,” said Kell head coach Craig Hines. “It’s nothing for them to be ashamed of… hate losing it though!”
Kell will return all but two of their players, including three starters. “Our program is in really good shape right now,” said Hines.
With their berth in the state playoffs in hand, Sprayberry will go on to play No. 1 seed Douglas County on Friday at Kell High School.
“The pressure is on them, their supposed to go undefeated, we can just go out and play our game and see what happens,” said Giles.