It is that time when the girls’ basketball season is winding down into tournament play. The girls’ team is close to finishing off the regular season with only four games remaining. Within the next two weeks, the girls will be taking on conference opponents such as Wabash, Southwood, and Maconaquah, while also facing off against their rival, the Logansport Berries.
The girls played Tipton on January 14, hosting their senior night. The girls dominated over Tipton, earning a victory of 57-17. While it was senior night, Aftin Griffin scored her 1000th point only a couple of minutes into the game. Griffin talked about the accomplishment being an amazing experience to achieve a goal she had set back in her sophomore year. It was a special night for all the seniors.
The Lady Kings are 16-3 so far this season and are able to make their goal of 20 wins this season if they go 4-0 in these last four games. The sectional draw will be held this Sunday, January 25. Head Coach Kyle Amor had this to say, “We are in a six-team sectional with Cass, Oak Hill, Manchester, Rochester, Wabash, and Eastern. Oak Hill is the only team in the field that has beaten us this season.” He continued with “I think we are in a similar position to where we were last year. We are a team that is good enough to win it, but not necessarily the favorite. And we found a way to win. Same situation, new year.”
Seniors, Ava Hubner and Aftin Griffin, are anticipating the same outcome of the draw on Sunday, hoping to draw the Eastern Comets in the first round. Whereas, senior AnnaLeigh Hedrick is wishing for the bye in the first round. Coach Amor said, “Some teams prefer the first-round bye, but I actually like playing early. I think it helps get the jitters out, and getting an extra game on the floor at Wabash can go a long way. I expect a very competitive and exciting sectional where whoever comes out on top is going to have to play really well to earn the Sectional 38 title.”
Looking back on the season thus far, the team has improved as a whole in many ways. Coach Amor said there have been some tough wins this season, and even when there is a bad start to a game, the team has learned not to panic, but to stay together and know how to respond. One of the biggest challenges the team has faced this year is injuries and illness, Amor stated. During the holiday tournament at Carroll, the team played without three starters but still managed to win two of the three games. There have been many great memories and bonds that the team has built throughout the season. Aftin said her favorite memory was winning the Cass County Tournament once again for the second year in a row. AnnaLeigh said her favorite memory was when the seniors were getting interviewed by Coke this year and were laughing the whole time. Then, finally, Ava included her favorite memory, which was when the team all went out to eat together and got together for the sectional dinners.
Overall, the Lady Kings have games this week on January 21, at Wabash, and January 24, at home versus Southwood. Even though the girls’ regular season is coming to a close, they have big goals to make a long run in the tournament. Come out and Support your Lady Kings!
