By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, February 15, 2009
The best season in school history for the Bridgeport girls' basketball team continued Tuesday night in Wise County. The state's fifth-ranked team has not lost a game in 2009, and it stayed that way when Burkburnett came to town in the regular-season finale.
The Sissies made a defensive statement in their final game before the playoffs start next weekend. They racked up 14 steals and held the Bulldogs to 14 first-half points to cruise to a 57-36 win on senior night to wrap up an undefeated district championship.
"This was a solid effort to finish off a great regular season," said BHS coach Eddie Fortenberry. "The kids were focused on finishing with an undefeated district record."
Bridgeport, which was scheduled to play Muenster in a warm-up game at 4 p.m. Saturday at home, has a bye in the first round of the state playoffs. The group, which finishes at 10-0 in district play and moved to 29-1 for the year, will advance to the area round next Friday or Saturday.
As for Burkburnett, the Sissies put on a defensive choke hold in the first quarter and never let up. Led by five steals from Marissa Grooms and Shannon Demmitt, they jumped out to a 13-3 lead.
The Bulldogs had a little more luck in the second quarter when Ashley Rarick found her touch. However, it was not enough to hold off the area's hottest team as Bridgeport moved in front 26-14 at halftime.
Kaitlyn Waynen helped put some distance between Bridgeport and the Bulldogs in the third quarter. The locals used an 8-2 run to get the momentum early and take a 41-26 lead.
Bridgeport polished off the victory with a game-high 16 points in the fourth period.
Waynen led the way with a game-high 21 points, five more than Grooms with 16. Demmitt added 11 points, while Haley Meekins had five, and Kim Bible and Presley White had two each.
