Lady Cats not satisfied with just facing Lady Horns

[Bobcatfan4life]

Lady Cats not satisfied with just facing Lady Horns

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD — The Orangefield Lady Bobcats are known for their work on the basketball court.

Everyone in Southeast Texas knows this to be the truth.

Well Southeast Texas meet the Lady Bobcats, a volleyball team one win away from this weekend's regional tournament in College Station.

The Lady Bobcats will face the Hamshire-Fannett Lady Longhorns at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nederland High School in the Class 3A Region III area round. The winner will head to College Station for the regional tournament set for Friday and Saturday.

This is a far cry for years past when the Lady Bobcats were lacing up sneakers and working on their free throws at this time of year. Orangefield basketball coach Chris Jost has even had to cancel the start of basketball season while the Lady Bobcats march through the volleyball playoffs.

"We have always been known for basketball," volleyball coach Kristin Holbrooks said. "I think in a lot of people's eyes what we do from here on out is just icing on the cake but we are not satisfied as a team and I am not satisfied as a coach. The girls are not ready to lose. They see how good they can be in other sports and it will carry over to basketball which can carry over to softball. It is great for our athletic program."

The Lady Bobcats have not had an easy go to get to this point either.

Orangefield fought through District 21-3A and ended the district race in a third-place tie with the Bridge City Lady Cardinals, a team known for playoff runs in volleyball and a 2007 season which ended at the regional tournament.

Orangefield showed they were not satisfied then with a three-game sweep in a play-in game and then set their claws on the bi-district round.

Once again still hungry for more, the Lady Bobcats took out the Lady Panthers of Liberty in four games.

Holbrooks knows the Lady Bobcats will need the same focus and desire to down the Lady Longhorns who finished in a tie for the district championship with the Silsbee Lady Tigers.

Hamshire-Fannett swept Silsbee in a match to determine seeding through the playoffs and then knocked off Taylor in four games.

In the last district meeting between the Lady Longhorns and Lady Bobcats, Hamshire-Fannett won in five games.

"Hamshire-Fannett is playing real good volleyball right now," Holbrooks said. "They are a great team. I have always said I want our team to play teams when they are playing their best. Liberty I feel was at their best last week and I expect the same on Tuesday. Hamshire is not looking to go home after Tuesday."

Holbrooks said the team has no problem in facing a team they know so well from district matches.

"At first when we played Bridge City in the play-in match, I was nervous out of my mind," Holbrooks added. "The kids say they would rather face someone they know and where they hit and where they line up on defense. As far as their peace of mind goes, I rather us playing Hamshire-Fannett over Taylor."

And face the Lady Longhorns the Lady Bobcats will do Tuesday and try to make sure Jost keeps having to make those changes on the basketball schedule.

[Gabe]

Dang Bobcat, you fast! I don't think I had hit the publish button yet on our site! LOL

[Bobcatfan4life]

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