Rockwall is Heading to Austin After Beating West Mesquite

The Rockwall Lady Jackets 2011-2012 season began with high expectations. Rockwall had won 8 straight district championships and been to the State Championship twice during that time including a 2007 season that ended hoisting the trophy after a 40-0 record. And this team was returning six starters… that’s right six starters! All five from last season, plus Mary Hinton who had started the 2009-2010 season before suffering a season ending shoulder surgery last year. Then, just before the season started Hinton would re-injure her shoulder and that was just the beginning…

The season opened with a re-match of the 2006 State Championship game as the Lady Jackets hosted Plano West. In the first quarter of that game, Junior Hannah Hughes went down in extreme pain holding her knee. Hughes was the Dallas Morning News Newcomer of the Year last season and a crucial part of the success of this Lady Jacket team. Hughes would learn that she tore her ACL and was out for the season.

The excitement for the season opener quickly wore off as the Lady Jackets had just lost two of their best players and Plano West took advantage with a 25 point lead heading into the 4^th quarter. But don’t you dare doubt the resolve of this team. Rockwall came out in that 4^th quarter on a mission and outscored Plano West 23-9. Even though the Lady Jackets lost the game, they sent a message to themselves and anyone they would play that Jacket Fight Never Dies. 

Rockwall carried that mission and resolve into this weekend’s Regional Tournament at the Garland Special Events Center with two heart-stopping two point victories. The Lady Jackets came from behind Friday night in stunning fashion to defeat Bryan Rudder 48-46 and then last night held off a furious rally by West Mesquite to win 36-34 and advance to next weekend’s State Tournament in Austin. 

“We could have said, ‘Well, this year’s not going to be anything,” Coach Jill McDill said. “Instead, these girls said, ‘We’re going to make it a great story and were going to do it for them and the seniors.’ That’s a huge testament to their fight and their drive. They just want to stick together as long as they can.”

Seniors Alyssa Lang and Paige Turner lead the Lady Jackets in scoring against West Mesquite with 10 points each. Rockwall’s half court defense held West to only 11 first half points as the Lady Jackets built a 12 point lead at the intermission. West Mesquite began to chip away at the lead in the 3^rd period and Rockwall led 29-21 heading into the 4^th.

West Mesquite used a full court press to spark a 7-2 run at the start of the 4^th quarter cutting the Lady Jackets lead to 31-28 with 4:53 left in the game. Then the Lady Jackets had an incredible possession holding the ball for nearly 3 minutes while drawing 4 fouls and finally sending Junior Point Guard Morghen Day to the line to knock down 2 free throws and give Rockwall a 33-28 lead with 1:42 to play. West was able to cut the lead to one point at 35-34 with 24 seconds to go and the Lady Jackets used beautiful, crisp passing to play keep away from the Lady Wranglers for 17 seconds before they could foul Lang. She hit the first free throw and Rockwall led 36-34 with 7 seconds to go. After a missed free throw, West Mesquite drove the length of the court, but Day and Lang provided the pressure and West was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sending all of the Lady Jackets, including Hughes and Hinton on to the court to celebrate the dramatic victory.

Rockwall will face Victoria East on Thursday evening at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. The game time is yet to be determined, but will be at either 7 or 8:30 pm.

To All Lady Jackets Fans – find a way to Austin! And bring your Future Lady Jackets with you.

To All Future Lady Jackets - the last time we went to State Alyssa Lang was in 7th grade, Morghen Day was in 6th grade, Ellen Baker was in 5th grade & Sara Williamson was a 4th grader. DREAM BIG Future Lady Jackets... DREAM BIG!

Hard Work Pays Off... Jacket Fight Never Dies... The Future is Bright!

Morghen Day looks to pass

Paige Turner drives

Alyssa Lang with the jump shot

Lady Jackets Complete Stunning Comeback

The Rockwall Lady Jackets finished a stunning come from behind victory with a 9-2 run to close out the game beating Bryan Rudder 48-46 on Friday night at the Garland Special Events Center. The win advances Rockwall to today’s Regional Championship at 3pm at the Garland Special Events Center against West Mesquite.

 

Rudder jumped to an early lead and at times looked like they would run away with the game. Kansas Jayhawk bound Point Guard Lamaria Cole led the Lady Rangers with 14 first half points. Cole scored her 16^th point just 2 minutes into the 3^rd quarter giving Rudder an 11 point lead, but would only score one more bucket the rest of the game. Just when it looked like Rudder would put the game away the Lady Jackets defensive intensity began frustrating Cole and her team mates and Rockwall started to chip away at their lead. Senior Paige Turner took the second half assignment of guarding Cole and she rose to the occasion. Helped by some trapping defense from Senior Kayla Smith and Junior Morghen Day, the trio disrupted the perimeter play of the Lady Rangers and created some timely turnovers. 

The Lady Jackets trailed by 5 points heading into the 4^th quarter, but Turner hit a bucket on the first possession and was fouled to complete the 3 point play. Rudder hit one free throw to go up by 3 and then Senior Post Alyssa Lang did what she has done all year… dominate the paint on offense. Lang, who finished with a team high 19 points and 11 rebounds, grabbed an offensive rebound and put back to cut the Rudder lead to 2 points and the crowd began believe that these Lady Jackets just might be able to complete the comeback.  

Rudder held onto their lead for much of the 4^th quarter before Smith hit a bucket with 2 minutes to go in the game to give Rockwall their first lead since 3-2. A Smith free throw on the next possession put the Lady Jackets up 46-44 with just over a minute to play. After milking more than 30 seconds off the clock Rudder finally attacked the basket with 20 seconds left and drew a foul.  Junior Marche Amerson hit both free throws tying the game at 46. With just 1.9 seconds on the clock Smith was fouled driving the the basket and was sent to the free throw line with the game on the line.

With ice in her veins, Smith drilled both free throws giving her Lady Jackets the 48-46 win.

“We shoot those every day in practice, so no pressure. When I went to the basket, I knew I was going to get fouled or score. You’ve got to have confidence in that situation,” explained Smith. 

Jacket Fight Never Dies!

Ellen Baker looks for an opening

Kayla Smith drives around the defender

Paige Turner and Alyssa Lang fight for a loose ball

Lady Jackets Topple Second Ranked Tigers

Future Lady Jackets, former Lady Jackets, and fans of the Lady Jackets all gathered together Tuesday night at John Horn High School in Mesquite to watch our Rockwall Lady Jackets face the Lincoln Lady Tigers for the third time in four years. Lincoln had won the previous two Regional Quarterfinal match ups in 2009 and 2011 and came into the game with an unblemished 29-0 record. Lincoln’s average margin of victory was 56.4 points per game and was the favorite to return to Austin for the State Tournament, a feat they have accomplished 7 of the last 11 years. But don’t tell that to these Lady Jackets.

The Lady Jackets had hoped for a rematch ever since last season’s game ended with Kayla Smith launching a desperation half court shot at the buzzer that hit the backboard and hugged the rim before falling out and dealing the Lady Jackets a 3 point loss to end the 2011 season. This time would be different…

The Lady Jackets wouldn’t need any last second heroics, instead Senior Kayla Smith iced the game by making 6 consecutive free throws in the last 90 seconds to lead Rockwall to an impressive 50-42 win. The Lady Jackets made their final 12 free throws of the game to keep the Lady Tigers from ever really threatening in the 4^th quarter.

Smith led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points followed by Freshman Sara Williamson with 12 and Senior Post Alyssa Lang who added 11 points and controlled the boards all night.  Senior Paige Turner added 8 points and Junior Point Guard Morghen Day scored 4 points and was brilliant in facilitating the Lady Jackets full court and half court offense. But the difference in this game was the aggressive team defense that kept Lincoln from ever getting into a scoring groove.

Rockwall was down 12-4 early in the game, but came out in the 2^nd quarter with a defense mindset. The Lady Jackets forced 4 turnovers in the first 5 possessions of the 2^nd quarter to close the gap on the Lady Tigers early lead. With a 19-8 2^nd quarter scoring advantage Rockwall would take a 25-20 halftime lead and never look back.

Lincoln averaged more than 70 points a game this season, but could only muster 2 points in the first 5 minutes of the final period as Rockwall shut the vaunted Lady Tiger offense down and advanced to the Regional Semi-Finals where they will face Bryan Rudder at 6pm on Friday night at the Garland Special Events Center.

Alyssa Lang Takes the Ball Away

Kayla Smith Brings the Ball Up the Court

Morghen Day Drives

Alyssa Lang and Sara Williamson Play Stifling Defense

Lady Jackets Top Heath on the Road

The Lady Jackets came away victorious against cross-town rival Heath with a 59-32 win. Sara Williamson led the team in scoring with 17 points followed by Alyssa Lang with 13 points. The Lady Jackets are now 26-6 overall and 10-1 in District.

The JV team also won 49-38. Regan Gladney led the team in scoring with 12 points. The JV team is now 22-3 overall and 11-0 in District.

The Freshman Lady Jackets lost a tough one to the 17-2 Heath Hawks 41-49. The Hawks jumped out to an early lead, and the Lady Jackets were never able to overcome the deficit.  The girl’s fought hard until the last buzzer, but just fell short. Leading scorers for the Jackets were Rachel Farrow with 17 and Nicole Smith with 7.  

Alleah Austin battles for position

Cassie Ross brings the ball up the court

Paige Turner fights for a bucket

Sara Williamson makes a great post pass

Victory over Wylie Gives Lady Jackets Two Game Lead

The Lady Jackets played Wylie last night and won in overtime 48-42. Alyssa Lang led the team in scoring with 21 points followed by Kayla Smith with 12 points. The Lady Jackets are now in sole possession of first place! The varsity is now 24-6 and 8-1 in district.

The JV team also defeated Wylie last night 37-21. Hannah Clark was the leading scorer with 8 points. The JV is now 20-3 and 9-0 in District.

Both teams will resume district play this Tuesday at home against McKinney at 6 and 7:30.

Alyssa Lang fights through the double team

Kayla Smith ices the game at the FT line