By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, February 15, 2009
Two things had to happen Tuesday night for the Slidell High School girls' basketball team to make the Class 1A state playoffs. The group had to beat Prairie Valley in the season final and first-place Saint Jo had to defeat third-place Midway.
The Lady Greyhounds held up their end of the bargain as they easily handled the Bulldogs 59-28. However, Saint Jo could not hold on to a 10-point lead and missed its last five shots as Midway pulled off a 34-33 upset to crush Slidell's postseason hopes.
"We played so much better after district started, it hurts that the girls won't get to go on. One loss to Forestburg that should of never happen killed us," said SHS coach Cody Vanover, referring to his team's loss two weeks ago to the sixth-place team. "We are already meeting about next year and we are setting some lofty goals. We are mostly freshmen with a sophomore and a junior, so we will learn from this. We better, because I know it hurts them too."
The win wrapped up Slidell's season with a fourth-place finish in District 17-1A at 10-4. The group finished just one game out of first place as Saint Jo, Byers and Midway all tied for first at 11-3.
The Lady Greyhounds hardly broke a sweat against last-place Prairie Valley. They got baskets from Sarah Davis, Katy Stephens and Allie Staub to take a lead that was never threatened in going ahead 14-4.
The Slidell defense continued to make things tough on the Bulldogs in the second quarter. Chanel Brewer and Shanda Woodruff led the way and allowed just one basket to help give the team a 25-8 halftime lead.
Prairie Valley had a little more luck in the third quarter where it scored a game-high 12 points. However, Staub made sure the run did not cut into the lead as she scored 11 points in the quarter to extend Slidell's lead to 40-20.
The Lady Greyhounds saved their best for last as they poured on a game-high 19 points in their final quarter of the season. Bobbi Clemmer and Christin Epting got into the scoring mix.
"When you break down district play, we were two free throws away from being district champs or one win away from finishing tied for first place," said Vanover, who saw his team lose two games by a point. "Getting ready for next year starts this spring."
Staub had three, three-pointers for the night and finished with a game-high 24 points. Davis tacked on 13 points, while Stephens had eight, Clemmer had six, Epting had four and Brewer and Woodruff had two each.
