Speedy Sissies can't slow down Pirates in 71-65 semifinal loss
By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, March 1, 2009
Only one team this season has been able to match the quickness of the Bridgeport High School girls' basketball team. That group was state-ranked Bowie, the only team to beat the Sissies this year.
That was until Friday night in Lubbock where Bridgeport ran into a Lubbock Cooper team that was loaded with speedsters. The end result was the same as back in December as the Sissies struggled to keep up with Cooper en route to a 71-65 overtime loss at Lubbock Christian University in a Class 3A, Region I semifinal game.
The Sissies trailed by as many as 10 points late in the third quarter before shaking things up. Kaitlyn Waynen and Haley Meekins converted a pair of and-1 opportunities and Marissa Grooms buried a pair of free throws to tie the game at 58-58 with 1:15 left in regulation. Both teams had chances to steal the game in the last 30 seconds but every shot fell short, and Grooms' wide-open shot from the corner of the baseline was long which forced overtime.
Despite losing three starters to fouls, Cooper delivered in the extended period. The group scored the first six points of overtime and never gave up the lead.
Bridgeport, the sixth-ranked team in the state, did not go down without a fight. Waynen and Meekins swished free throws to set up the team's final run of the year. Marissa Grooms followed with a three-pointer from seven feet behind the arc to cut the Cooper lead to three points, 68-65, with 24 seconds to play.
The Pirates watched as Bridgeport missed its final three shots of the game. The Sissies were forced to foul and Cooper took care of business, hitting three of its four free-throw attempts in the final 22 seconds to secure the upset.
The loss ended Bridgeport's season, which is the best in school history, with a 32-2 record. Cooper moved to 26-10 and advanced to play district-foe Estacado in the regional finals Saturday.
The first quarter was nearly as even as it could have been. The game was tied on three occasions and neither team led by more than three points.
Bridgeport scored the first four points of the game on a basket by Kim Bible and free throws via Waynen. Cooper ended its silence by hitting the first of six three-pointers on the night to make it a one-point game.
The Sissies battled back like they did all night, and one big reason for that was Meekins. The sophomore, who led all scorers with 24 points, hit two free throws to make it 5-3 with 4:47 left in the first quarter.
Meekins, Waynen and Grooms each scored again but it was not enough to keep pace with Cooper's long ball. the Pirates hit two more three-pointers to take a 15-12 lead after one quarter.
Both teams traded baskets to start the second quarter. Presley White, Waynen and Meekins took care of the scoring for the Sissies as they held on to a 19-18 lead with 5:51 left in the opening half.
That proved to be the final lead of the season for Bridgeport. Cooper, which forced 11 first-half turnovers, went on a 12-4 run to take its biggest lead of the half at 30-23.
Waynen refused to go away and scored four straight points, and Meekins nailed two more free throws to make it a two-point game, 32-30.
The Pirates, led by standout freshman guard Brittany Bednarz, hit a three-pointer and scored seven of the last eight points to take a 37-31 halftime lead.
Bridgeport came out on a mission in the third quarter by scoring the first five points. A short jumper by Meekins and a three-point play via Waynen trimmed the Cooper lead to one point, 37-36.
The Pirates opened u their transition game to take the biggest lead of the game. They knocked down three straight fastbreak baskets on baseball passes to move in front 47-37 with 2:38 left in the quarter.
A time-out by Bridgeport coach Eddie Fortenberry helped get his team's attention and set the tone for the furious fourth-quarter rally.
