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 4th quarter. But don’t
you dare doubt the resolve of this team. Rockwall came out in that 4th
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 3rd period and Rockwall led 29-21 heading into the 4th.
West Mesquite used a full court press to spark a 7-2
run at the start of the 4th 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!
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| Morghen Day looks to pass |
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| Paige Turner drives |
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| Alyssa Lang with the jump shot |
