Joseph Till Staff Writer
For the first time since the 2014-2015 season, the Lady Panthers basketball team won the district championship. The team finished with a 15-3 record in district and had an overall record of 24-10. After four straight losses to start the season the girls went for seven consecutive wins to get on back on track. They would go into district with an 8-6 record before going 13-1 to start district play. That run of games included a nine-game win streak. A 3-2 record in their final five games was enough to give them a one-game cushion and the district title. Freshman Juliana Tapia, who averaged 4.3 points per game and a team-leading 2.6 steals per game, was the only freshman on the team this past season and believed the team had what it took to win the district title. “The team worked well together so I just knew we would do good. We worked, we all had the drive to get it, we all wanted it,” Tapia said. She also shared some of her favorite moments from the past season. “Just when I first stepped on the court, the big court. It was different, it was faster. In the locker room before every game we would all get in a huddle and pray and cheer,” Tapia said Senior Natalie McCoy, who averaged a team-high 14.5 points per game, said she knew the team could make a run at the district championship. “After the first half of district play, we had beaten every team except one making us the first seed. Taking care of business early allowed us to play each game with less stress,” McCoy said. She also talked about the factors that goes into a close title race. “The biggest factor in a close race is taking care of your own business so you don’t have to rely on anyone else. And that all starts with just putting the ball in the basket,” McCoy said. She also talked about some of the things she is going to miss going forward. “Playing on a winning basketball team. I will miss the feel of high school basketball and the community around it,” McCoy said. She finished her high school career averaging 9.5 points after four seasons on varsity. Another main contributor through the season was junior Nicole Hemphill. She averaged 14.1 points to along with 9 rebounds per game which ranked second and first on the team, respectivley. “The defining moment in which I believed that we could win district was when we lost to Pflugerville… we were neck and neck the entire time and really gave them some tough competition. I knew from then on, if we could compete the way we did against Pflugerville, we could definitely win our district,” Hemphill said. She also talked about the most memorable moment for her this the season. “My favorite moment of the season was when we beat Brandeis in December… Beating Brandeis is always extremely gratifying,” Hemphill said. Head Coach Karmen Wilson was always confident in her team’s ability. “I felt all along that we were capable of winning district. It is a long season with lots of games, so just staying focused, and injury free was key for us,” Coach Wilson said. She also mentioned how important the seniors on the team were. “I will miss our great senior leadership; they were all focused and vocal and encouraging to their teammates,” Coach Wilson said. There were six seniors on the roster of thirteen this season. The Lady Panther’s season would come to an end in a 55-44 loss to East Central in the first round of the playoffs. Plenty of players are returning who helped contribute to this seasons success. Fans and players alike look forward to another great season.