SLIP SLIDING AWAY

Despite surging into the second round of District 12-2A riding a three-game winning streak, Meridian Lady Jackets saw their playoff hopes thwarted with string of losses down home stretch of season

After winning three straight games to move into postseason contention in District 12-2A, the Meridian Lady Jackets appeared on the verge of surging toward their third straight playoff berth despite making the move from Class 1A to 2A this season. Unfortunately for the Lady Jackets, five consecutive losses ensued, eliminating Meridian going into their regular season finale.

With all four of the district’s playoff berth locked up, the Lady Jackets (3-9 in district, 8-22 overall) wrapped up the season on the road with a 44-26 loss to the Rio Vista Lady Eagles (3-9, 3-21) in the finale Tuesday. In other key district action, the second-place Crawford Lady Pirates (10-2, 16-6) edged the Itasca Lady Wampus Cats (8-4, 17-11), 23-22, in a head-to-head showdown for the district’s runner-up spot.

While the Bosqueville Bulldogs (12-0, 15-10) secured the district title with an overwhelming 62-25 victory over third place Itasca last Friday, the Valley Mills Lady Eagles (5-7, 11-17) clinched the fourth-place berth with a thrilling 48-45 victory over Rio Vista.

Coming off a three-game winning streak to open the second round of district, the Lady Jackets knew they would have their hands full against the two district frontrunners – undefeated Bosqueville and runner-up Crawford – before facing a key showdown with third-place Itasca and a must-win scenario against winless Rapoport.

“Going into this stretch of the district schedule, we knew it was going to be a daunting task,” Meridian girls basketball head coach Adan Reyes said. “Bosqueville is sitting atop the district with Crawford sitting a close second. These two programs are no strangers to success as they are both coming off a spectacular volleyball season and are looking to roll that success into the basketball season.

Despite a strong first-half performance against Itasca, the Lady Jackets could not keep pace as the Lady Wampus Cats surged to a convincing 37-20 victory last Tuesday night.

After a defensive struggle left Meridian trailing by only one point at halftime, the Lady Wampus Cats ran away with the crucial by outscoring the Lady Jackets, 22-6, in the second half. Junior Dyna Potter led Meridian with six points, followed by freshman Brianna Ortiz with five, junior Addyson Scott with four and senior Mariana Paniagua with three.

Desperately needing a win to keep their postseason hopes alive, the Lady Jackets came out fast to build a commanding 21-11 advantage at intermission. But in the second half, Rapoport (1-10, 5-17) began chipping away at Meridian’s lead in the third quarter before surging past the Lady Jackets, 13-5, in the final frame.

Scott led Meridian with 11 points, followed by freshman Abigail Dietiker with eight, Potter with five along with sophomore Sarah Rosales, freshman Mailey Padgett and senior Journey Stauffer with three each.

In the season finale at Rio Vista, the Lady Jackets battled to an 8-6 first quarter lead. But the Lady Eagles outscored Meridian, 21-5, in the second period and never looked back. Scot led the Lady Jackets with 10 points, followed by Rosales and Paniagua with five each, as well as Gilbert with four and Potter with three.

Still in control its own postseason destiny in District 12-2A going into the final two weeks of the season, the Lady Jackets faced the gauntlet of taking on the district’s two frontrunners in back-to-back games. After taking their lumps in overwhelming losses to first place Bosqueville and runner-up Crawford, the Lady Jackets hoped to regroup in time to secure their third straight trip to the playoffs.

Needing two wins in their last three games to guarantee a playoff berth, the Lady Jackets still stood on the brink of returning to the postseason. But losses to Itasca, Waco Rapoport and Rio Vista dashed those hopes after advancing to the Class 1A postseason for two straight seasons while sharing the District 20-1A title with the defending champion Blum Lady Bobcats last year.

In the 49-21 loss to Bosqueville, the Lady Jackets played tough in the first quarter before the Lady Bulldogs pulled away by outscoring Meridian, 17-3, in the second period. Scott led the Lady Jackets with seven points, followed by Potter and Ortiz with six apiece.

Crawford handed Meridian an overwhelming 58-20 loss in much the same way as Potter led the Lady Jackets with eight points, followed by Scott with four.

“Both games started off good as we kept them at bay through the first quarter,” Reyes said. “But then, they both did what great teams do and started to hit key shots and make defensive stops. We didn’t take care of the ball like we needed to and the turnovers cost us tremendously. And against good teams like that, there’s not a lot of room for error.”