This week the Lady Blue Devils and Blue Devils played host to Hollis and traveled to Arapaho-Butler for the district playoffs. The Lady Devils were able to get off to a good state against the Lady Tigers, out scoring them in the first quarter 15-13. Unfortunately the Lady Blue Devils were unable to cany that momentum into the second quarter and were outscored by 5 points, and were down 21-18 at halftime. The Lady Blue Devils came out of the half with a plan of attack, but were unable to execute, and found themselves in a bigger hole down 13 after 3 quarters. The Lady Blue Devils were able to chip a few points off of the lead early in the 4th quarter, but the hole they had dug was too much for the Lady Blue Devils to climb out of and they fell to the Lady Tigers 54-36.
The Lady Blue Devils came out against the Lady Tigers of Union City in slow fashion, they were only able to muster 1 bucket in the first, and were down 10-2 after 1.
The Lady Blue Devils were able to find a lot more offense, and were able to put together a 14-7 second quarter finding themselves down only 1 at half. The halftime talk was exactly what the Lady Blue Devils needed, because they were able to tie the game up heading into the 4th quarter. The 4th quarter was a back and forth battle with both teams trading the lead back and forth, but a late 3 by the Lady Blue Devils, and their ability to make their free throws found themselves on the right side of the scoreboard with the 37-34 win. That win secured the Lady Blue Devils another 2 games.
The Lady Blue Devils played the Lady Indians from Arapaho-Butler on Saturday night, and the emotion from the win the night before caught up to the Lady Blue Devils.
A bank in 3 at the buzzer of the 1st quarter found the Lady Blue Devils down 16-6 after the first quarter. Unfortunately an extended scoring drought from the Lady Blue Devils did not do them any favors against the Lady Indians, and they fell short on the scoreboard 53-8.
When the Blue Devils tipped off against Hollis they jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead. Hollis was able to settle in and went on a 14-4 run to end the first quarter.
Unfortunately the scoring woes for the Blue Devils carried into the 2nd quarter as they were outscored 13-5 finding themselves down 27-15 at half. Coming out of the half the Blue Devils played well on defense, but were unable to muster any offense and were down 38-15 after the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter the Blue Devils found their stride on offense as they were able to put up 24 points in the 4th quarter, but the hole that had been dug was too much to climb out of, and the Blue Devils fell 61-39.
The Blue Devils traveled to Arapaho-Butler where they took on the Union City Tigers. The first quarter both teams came out firing, but the Blue Devils found themselves down 5 after 1 quarter of play. The Blue Devils had a better 2nd quarter than they did in the first, but were unable to keep pace with the Tigers, and went to the half down 37-24. The 3rd quarter was similar to the first in terms of scoring as the Blue Devils were outscored by 3 in the 3rd. The Blue Devils came out fighting in the 4th, and were able to cut it to 12 with 3 minutes left to play, but the Tigers offense deemed to be too much for the Blue Devils as they lost 65-47,to end their season at 2-20.
Coach Trent said. “The girls really focused on their preparation for Union City, and executed the game plan. He is proud they secured the victory guaranteeing them another week of basketball. He is proud of the chemistry and togetherness the girls are playing with.”
Coach Blankenship said, “He is very proud of the effort that was given by all of these young men, and he is proud of the seniors and the foundation they laid for the years to come.”
The Lady Blue Devils will travel to Union City Thursday Feb 16, 2023 To take on Sterling in the regional tournament tip off is scheduled for 1:30.