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Top McKinney Sports Stories 2012 - (No. 6) Surge Protectors: Lady Bulldogs clutch down the stretch in area win
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@acnpapers.com
(Editor's Note: The McKinney North girls basketball team made a deep playoff run in February, which culminated in the Lady Bulldogs beating Bryan Adams to reach the regional quarterfinals. The original article appeared on Feb. 17.)
Following the script of its opening-round playoff win over Frisco Wakeland to the letter, the McKinney North girls basketball team held off a late rally from Bryan Adams in Friday's area showdown to ensure its advancement via a 48-41 victory.
"The schedule we've played definitely won this game," said Michael Oldham, North head coach. "[Bryan Adams] plays hard and scrappy. I don't know that we deserved to win the game from a physicality standpoint. They just outhustled us, so I feel fortunate to get out of here with a win."
Mason ended the night with a team-high 14 points.
The short scoring burst represented the only points of the quarter so far, but the offense picked up from there as Bryan Adams snapped back with a 9-0 run to make it a one-point game.
The momentum swing took just over two minutes to develop.
"We're lucky we built that 10-point lead, because they cut it back down pretty quick," Oldham said. "We just never could sustain a run tonight for some reason."
Just like against Wakeland, the Lady Bulldogs were in a dogfight after momentarily losing control of a game they had a handle on most of the way. They bought a little more breathing room when Mason grabbed a rebound and hooked up with freshman Chanterria Jackson on a lengthy pass for an easy lay-in.
Bryan Adams answered with a score of its own to keep pace, but it would be its last points of the night. The Lady Bulldogs picked up their defense and rebounding at the ideal time to ensure the ball would spend most of the final minute in their hands.
"The kids did what they had to do down the stretch," Oldham said.
The game played out with North picking up fouls and knocking down 6-of-8 free throws to seal the win.
The Lady Bulldogs closed the first half in similar fashion. They held an 18-17 lead midway through the frame before adding to their advantage as the quarter wound down. The effort culminated with two scores in the final seconds when Connor, who finished with 12 points, drove in for a layup on what was intended as the last possession, but a quick steal allowed North to squeeze in one more and two more points when senior Dea Orana dropped in the buzzer beater.
The Lady Bulldogs headed into halftime with a 28-21 advantage.
Bryan Adams had a chance to even the score in the third quarter, but went 0-for-5 from the charity stripe to head into the fourth trailing, 35-30. The difference in free-throw percentage between the Lady Cougars and North alone was enough to swing the game.
With the win, the Lady Bulldogs advance to a rematch with district rival Highland Park, which defeated Dallas Carter, 49-33, on Friday, in the regional quarterfinals. The Lady Scots are currently on an eight-game winning streak.
Highland Park is a familiar foe, as it has already beaten North in three prior meetings this season, starting with a 48-42 win at its home tournament. The Lady Scots then swept North, 56-44 and 49-47, during district.
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