WBB: Lady Rams already in playoff mode
of the basketball during recent season action for the Lady Rams.
JHS will host Harleton tonight and can clinch at least a tie for third
with a win. (Photo by Ray Jackson)
There may be two games remaining in the regular season, but the Joaquin Lady Rams are already in playoff mode. After winning two of their last three games, tonight's (Friday) game against Harleton in Ram Gymnasium could clinch at least a tie for third in the District 20-2A standings with a JHS win.
The Lady Rams, who have improved by great strides throughout the 2011-12 season, enter their last two games with a 15-14 season mark, even in league play with a 4-4 record. Joaquin rolled to a 51-33 triumph over Waskom last week and then battled second-place Tatum last Friday, losing only by a 53-42 count.
On Tuesday the Lady Rams kept pace with Harleton for the third and final playoff spot when they topped Jefferson, 43-39. Meanwhile, Harleton (13-7) was knocking off Waskom to also improve to 4-4 in district play. After facing JHS tonight, Harleton finishes the regular season Tuesday at home against Jefferson (2-6).
Elysian Fields (22-7) and Tatum (20-2) have both sewn up playoff spots already and are tied for the district lead with identical 7-1 records. They have split their season series. Elysian Fields visits Waskom (7-12) tonight (Friday) and then hosts Joaquin next Tuesday. Tatum has a home game tonight against Jefferson and then finishes the regular season at home Tuesday against Waskom. Jefferson is 2-6 in district and Waskom owns a 0-8 mark.
If the Lady Rams defeat Harleton tonight and then either defeat Elysian Fields Tuesday or Harleton loses to Jefferson, the Lady Rams will secure the third playoff spot. But if Joaquin loses tonight they can do no better than tie Harleton for third, but the Lady Wildcats will have swept the season series, securing the postseason berth.
If Joaquin and Harleton finish deadlocked in third place, including a Lady Ram win tonight, a one-game playoff will be held to determine which team represents District 20-2A as the third-place squad.
But it all starts with the contest tonight.
Here is a rundown of some of the recent Lady Rams' games which put them in position to play for this postseason run:
Joaquin 51, Waskom 33 -- Ava Stephens poured in 18 points, hitting 6-of-17 from the field - including three 3-pointers - to lead the Lady Rams to a 51-33 win over Waskom.
Mallory Martinez and Jordan Welch were also in double figures, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively. Martinez hit 5-of-9 from the field and Welch was 6-of-14.
Katelyn Cockrell scored five points, Ryleigh Yates added two and Paige Wilburn scored one.
Joaquin finished the game with 24 rebounds, with 10 of those coming on the offensive glass. Cockrell led the balanced rebounding assault with six boards, three of which were of the offensive variety. Martinez and Whitney Vaughn each pulled down five and Stephens, Welch and Annabeth Vaughn pulled in two apiece.
Ava Stephens picked up four steals and Annabeth Vaughn added three, while Whitney Vaughn handed out three assists.
Tatum 53, Joaquin 42 -- The first time Tatum and Joaquin met, the Lady Rams played the Lady Eagles tough for half before falling by a 58-26 count. Last Friday's matchup was a much different story. After falling behind by six, 18-12, in the first quarter and 32-20 at the break.
But the Lady Rams kept pace in the second half, outscoring the Lady Eagles 10-7 in the fourth quarter and cutting the deficit to 11 - a much smaller point differential than the first time around.
Joaquin struggled from the field, hitting just 27% (15-of-55) field goals. Cockrell scored 15 points to lead the Lady Rams, while Stephens pitched in 13. Welch was held to five points, with Whitney Vaughn contributing three and Annabeth Vaughn, Martinez and Chasity Baker each scored two points.
The Lady Rams totaled 32 rebounds, with 13 being offensive. Whitney Vaughn had seven rebounds, with Martinez and Welch each chipping in six and Baker hauling in four.
Whitney Vaughn recorded six steals and four assists, while Cockrell dished out four assists.
Joaquin 43, Jefferson 39 -- In a critical game on Tuesday night on the road, Whitney Vaughn cashed in 5-of-12 field goals and scored 14 points in the Lady Rams' 43-39 win over Jefferson.
Cockrell was near double-figuring scoring with nine points, while Annabeth Vaughn added seven points to the JHS attack, with Martinez and Welch each adding five, Baker had two and Stephens managed one point.
The Lady Rams ripped down 35 rebounds as a team, with 14 of those coming off the offensive glass. Annabeth Vaughn led the board work with 11, while Whitney Vaughn totaled seven and Martinez muscled her way to six. Cockrell tallied four.
Cockrell also recorded four steals, with Stephens picking up three. Whitney Vaughn handed out three assists.