Lady Mustangs brace for Liberty

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Lady Mustangs brace for Liberty

Gabe Pruett

The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE —

First the West Orange-Stark Lady Mustangs had to overcome being in fourth in the District 21-3A standings and then after making the playoffs another scenario pops in its ugly head.

Key wins down the stretch against Orangefield and Bridge City, coupled with a Kirbyville loss to Silsbee, helped the Lady Mustangs get into the post-season where they will now face Liberty at 7 p.m. Monday at Evadale High School.

WO-S Coach Callie Orebo and Liberty coach Greg Box took a little longer than normal to settle on a location before ironing the details out on Friday.

"It took a lot just to find a place," Orebo said. "Before that it took a lot for us to get into the playoffs."

The Lady Mustangs have already tasted playoff-type basketball this season as 21-3A was one of the toughest districts in the state.

Both Silsbee and Orangefield have been ranked inside the Top 15 for months and WO-S started the season inside the same mark. Kirbyville could be one of the best teams in the state to be sitting at home during the playoffs.

"Last night (Thursday) at the district meeting each of the playoff teams thanked the rest of the district for the competition," Orebo said. "We thanked them for helping us three get to where we are. That level of competition is crucial."

As for the Lady Mustangs, Orebo admitted not seeing the Lady Panthers on tape and in a way likes it like that.

"I am glad I haven't seen them and that my team hasn't either," Orebo added. "We can go out there and not know anything about them. That can be a good thing for our players so they don't think they are just going to roll over them."

The Lady Mustangs playoff march will obviously go through the play of senior guard Brittney Scott.

Scott has the unique ability to take games over but Orebo knows the sensational future Houston Lady Cougar cannot be alone.

Stepping up recently for the Lady Mustangs has been sophomore Kia Hartfield. who has a knack for draining three-pointers.

Hartfield hit six treys in the Lady Mustangs' 77-45 win over the Lady Cardinals on Tuesday, a victory that sealed the playoff push.

"We have been working hard on others stepping up their game," Orebo said. "Without help, we could not be a great team. Kia has stepped up and made some big shots. We knew at the start of the year her defense was not great but it has really come around over the last few weeks."

Then their is the post play of seniors Rebecca McMillion and Janea Hendreson who clog up the lane against opponents.

"Janea is ready and so is Rebecca," Orebo said. "Janea especially is ready to make up for her absence last year in the playoffs due to grades. She has had no worries in that department this year."

The Lady Mustangs starting five is rounded out by guard Dominique Riggs who seems to always be near the ball on defense and sets up the offense when WO-S has the ball.

Now Orebo said the Lady Mustangs have to become more determined than ever to win games.

"Now it is a new game," Orebo said. "If we get behind, I want to see some fight in them. We are capable of doing well and we hope it is our year. In the past we were always ranked and never met our goal. Maybe this year is different since we aren't rank."