Lady Eagles Clinch Back to Back District Titles
To say that Bedford and Tyrone got off to a slow start in the District 6 4A Championship game last night would be an understatement. Missed shots and turnovers led to a messy first quarter that ended with a 3-1 Tyrone lead.
The second quarter was not much better offensively, and Tyrone and Bedford headed into the locker room tied at 14.
Not what any of the players or the nearly packed crowd at the Mount Aloysius College Fieldhouse probably expected.
“I remember going into the half just feeling an incredible amount of pressure,” said Tyrone senior Marissa Lewis. “Coach Rhoades told us that this was 0-0, just like the beginning of the game. I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want to start this game over, let’s keep it 14-14. But he had it in our heads that this was ‘new life.’”
In the second half, both teams scored just twelve points, ending in a 26-26 tie – yet another ‘new game’.
Any excitement that the game lacked for the first three quarters, the fourth quarter more than made up for.
With about 7 seconds left in regulation and Tyrone clinging to a one-point lead, senior Emma Getz earned a jump ball, which went to the Lady Bison.
Bedford attempted to lob the in-bounds pass to the ever-consistent Sydney Taracatac, who dominated in the paint and had a game-high 21 points.
But Getz proved her will to succeed with a huge steal. She took it about mid-court, where she was fouled with 1.9 seconds left.
“I kinda just went for it. At that moment there was nothing to lose. We were up by 1. Once I got the steal it was just an overload of emotions. I knew we had sealed the deal,” said Getz.
At this point, the Lady Eagles were up by 1 and feeling the energy of the crowd.
Getz went to the foul line and missed her first attempt. Again, a timeout was called and the girls went to their benches.
“Once I got to the foul line with 1.6 seconds left and Coach [Rhoades] told me to miss my second one”, said Getz.
Just as she was asked, Getz shot it off of the right side rim and the Bison grabbed it, dribbled once, and put all of their muscle into a hail-mary shot that fell about 20 feet short, and the Lady Eagles celebrated like it was a state championship victory.
Jaida Parker kept the Lady Eagles in the game offensively, scoring the team-high 19 points.
The victorious Lady Eagles were welcomed home with firetrucks, medals, and bullpen wings.
Both teams will move on to the state playoffs. The Lady Eagles will play the first round at their home court on Wednesday, March 9th.
The Eagles have made state runs twice in the past two seasons and are hoping to claim that state title this year.
“I’m very proud of how hard the girls played despite not clicking offensively. It is a great reward for the time and effort these girls have dedicated to the program,” said Head Coach Luke Rhoades.
BOX SCORE
BEDFORD (33): Shuke 2 2-2 7, Taracatac 10 1-5 21, Ruffley 0 0-0 0, Lippincott 2 1-2 5, Martz 0 0-0 0, Becker 0 0-0 0. Totals — 14 4-9 33.
TYRONE (34): Lewis 0 0-0 0, Ramsey 3 0-0 8, Getz 1 1-5 3, Parker 6 6-11 19, Gibbons 2 0-4 4, Paul 0 0-0 0. Totals — 12 7-20 34.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bedford 1 13 12 7 — 33
Tyrone 3 11 12 8 — 34
3-point goals: Bedford 1 (Shuke); Tyrone 3 (Ramsey 2, Parker).
Officials: Todd Parker, Clark Adelman, Jack McDougal.
Records: Bedford (21-5); Tyrone (22-1).
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