OF Lady Bobcats forget to rebuild

[KFDM COOP]

OF Lady Bobcats forget to rebuild

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

They lost seven seniors a year ago. Two starters are back from a regional semi-finalist team.

Throw on top their long-time coach is now an assistant at Lamar University and the formula for a rebuilding year was supposed to be in place for the Orangefield Lady Bobcats.

Rebuilding usually does not include starting 8-0 in the always tough District 21-3A schedule.

Yet that is exactly what these Lady Bobcats have accomplished so far this season.

After Tuesday night they have already defeated Silsbee twice and taken down Hardin-Jefferson and Hamshire-Fannett.

Tuesday’s win also marked the second game in a row the Lady Bobcats have defeated a state-ranked squad.

H-J came into last Friday’s game at No. 17 and Silsbee came into Tuesday’s game at No. 20.

H-J was not ranked this past week and it would be hard to see Silsbee being in the top 20 next week all in thanks to these Lady Bobcats who are at No. 14 in the rankings.

I will admit just like most sports fans should that rankings really do not mean much and the onlly one that matters is being No. 1 at the end of the season.

They are still fun to look at and kick around.

The Lady Bobcats had most of their troubles this season in tournaments, losing all three games they played in the Sulphur, La. Tournament.

They are 4-for-4 since losing to the Sulphur Lady Tors on Dec. 29 with big wins of Hamshire-Fannett, Hardin-Jefferson and now Silsbee.

Orangefield has its star power in two seniors, Kaylin Little and Laura Riddick.

Little does the scoring and seems to never stop hustling while Riddick is the master of the dirty work.

Riddick will get the tough rebound, block a shot, snare key steals and is also a threat to score at any time.

Then there is the supporting cast which could be labeled as being one of the best around.

Fellow starters Jessica Weldon, Allie Beach and Olivia Wagner have all come up huge this season.

Bench players Shelby Poole, Marissa Wyatt and Aimee Scales give new coach Chris Jost exactly what he needs when he calls on them.

The Lady Bobcats work together so well and know they can count on each other and that could be the difference between them and the rest of District 21-3A foes.

Little and Riddick are not worried about giving up the spotlight and letting one of the younger players make the key plays down the stretch, see Tuesday’s game as an example.

Little and Riddick were both out of the game by the 3:44 mark with five fouls.

Although they were on the bench, it is easy to assume they had confidence in their teammates to get the job done against the Lady Tigers who were on the prowl at that point in the game.

The underclassmen all did their jobs by making free throws, grabbing rebounds and playing sound defensen down the stretch as the Lady Bobcats held on to win by seven.

And then their is Jost himself.

The new guy on the block, coming over from Comanche High School.

Jost was 60-39 at Comanche and reached the playoffs in all three seasons with one trip to the regional semifinals.

Being able to play in such big games like the ones against the Lady Hawks and Lady Tigers is one of the major reasons Jost came over to Orangefield.

The games are exciting, competitive and some of the best basketball the state has to offer.

So far the Lady Bobcats are 3-0 in those games and now have a two game lead over Silsbee and H-J in the standings.

Orangefield does not have time to get the big-heads and think the district championship is all but locked up.

The Lady Bobcats must hit the road a few times in the second half of the district loop and two of the games are huge in Fannett and Sour Lake.

Jost and Co. will be ready.

This group just does not seem to realize rebuilding does not include making a push for that championship.

[Cat22]

Once again, great job Gabe.  Thanks for everything you do, not only for Orangefield, but all the other schools you cover.  We are really blessed to have a local newspaper that cares about girls athletics like you guys do.  You guys are like no other.  Thanks for the hard work and late nights you guys put in.

Now, how about wearing that SPURS shirt to a few more games!!!

[Gabe]

I have it on today actually thank you! Well it makes a great undershirt

[Bobcat1]

Thanks again Gabe.

[Guest bleed orange]

This is a tribute to the coach and the kids. As the year went on they kept getting better and that is what good teams do. We can't get relaxed we must keep getting better and I think they will. If you look at the stats we are not turning the ball over as much. Our young kids are stepping up and maturing as basketball players and young women. It is awesome to watch. Going into the season nobody believed in us, I did and so did some other parents But most did not. Thats Ok, when you lose as many players as we did last year that is expected. This team is special. Thanks Gabe, I tell all the parents of the teams we play how good of a job you guys do and how sorry of a job the beaumont enterprise does.  They are jealous and should be. We are lucky to have the Orange Leader.

[Jdad]

Just wanted to shout at Gabe and the Orange Leader  GREAT JOB!!!! If only we had more men and women doing their jobs as well as you do yours for the local teams. Oranfield  and the other local schools in your area are lucky. If you ever want to come to hardin county and start a newspaper count me in. Again great job and keep up the good work.