HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL: Irann's playoff run ended by No. 6 Plains

Feb 16, 2013 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- STANTON For spurts during its Class 1A Division I Area playoff game Friday night, the Iraan basketball team got the stops it needed against a bevy of savvy shooters from Plains High School.

But the big bucket on the offensive end eluded the Bravettes as they fought to stay within striking distance. The same can't be said for the Cowgirls, who converted opportune shots time and again, and rained down 10 3-pointers en route to a 73-49 victory in Stanton.

Plains (30-4), which had a bye through the bi-district round, advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the second straight year and will play Forsan at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Wolfforth Frenship.

The loss signaled the end to Iraan's first playoff appearance in seven seasons, though after a lengthy reflection session in the locker room, heads were held high as players exited one last time.

And why wouldn't they The Bravettes (20-10) shared the District 7 title with McCamey and clinched its spot in the area bracket by beating Irion County 36-30 in the bi-district final.

"Being a senior it obviously sucks to lose, but we've come so far as a team. Just making it this far is a huge improvement," said Iraan's Jaymee Melius, who contributed 10 points to the Bravettes' cause. "We are proud of what we did this season." It just so happened that Iraan encountered its perfect storm opponent.

"We played a team that was fast and could shoot the ball like crazy. They played like that the whole game, and we hadn't played anybody like that all year," Iraan head coach Tina Hernandez said. "We aren't used to going out there and defend the 3 like that." The Cowgirls raced out to an 11-2 lead three minutes into the contest, and established a 23-13 buffer by the end of the first quarter.

Trying to counter the outside-in offense of the Cowgirls, Iraan was somewhat successful at feeding Melius and fellow post player Lacy Hazelwood, and each scored four points in the second quarter.

However, the Bravettes never got any closer than 10 points, and to make matters that much more difficult, Plains sophomore Riley Earnest hit a 3-pointer on her team's final possession of the first half to extend the lead to 40-25.

"For a while we thought we were hanging with them pretty good, but could never get that shot to fall that would get the momentum back in our direction," Melius said.

Earnest, who led Plains with 18 points, hit another trey to open the second half. The Cowgirls, who had six different players hit from beyond the arc, increased their advantage to 55-39 by the fourth quarter.

Haley Welch had 17 points, including 8-of-8 from the free throw line, and Marina Corrales chipped in 12 for the Cowgirls.

Hazelwood, a junior, scored 11 of her team-high 15 points in the second half, while seniors Kelsie Quintero and Christy Gonzalez posted nine and 10 points, respectively.

"It's just a great experience. We worked so hard for it," Quintero said of reaching the Area round. "It's hard to lose, but when it's a good team like (Plains) it makes it kind of all right." And Hernandez is quite all right with what her team accomplished this season.

"We exceeded our expectations and more," she said.

--Follow Joshua Weaver on Twitter @OAtheWeave ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To Technology News's Homepage ]