By Peter Mikhael
After some questionable referee calls, the girls basketball regional quarterfinal game boiled down to a last-minute possession with Richardson on the defensive. As junior guard Brianna Lester and her teammates tried to hold off Skyline, their 6’3” post, Dai’Ja Thomas, hit the winning basket with 17 seconds left to beat Richardson 49-48 to end the Lady Eagle’s most successful season.
“It’s hard to remember all that happened because it happened so fast,” coach Lauren Hardy said. “It just came down to not getting a stop in the very last play, which made the difference in the game. We’ve been in a lot of really tough close games this whole year, and so I really thought it was our game.”
Earlier in the year, Richardson had defeated top ranked Vista Ridge and McKinney North in the Duncanville Invitational Tournament. Hardy said she was heartbroken by the loss because she felt Richardson deserved to play in the state tournament.
“Just heartbreak, because I know – we knew – that we were good enough, that whoever won that game was going to go really far,” Hardy said. “And so I think more than anything else, it just really disappointed the girls because they worked really hard all year and so, I just felt they really deserved that win. It’s just hard to know that that could’ve been us, and that the team they’re playing first round in the state tournament is a team we’ve already beaten by 12 points.”
Despite the sudden end to their season, the girls basketball team said they’re proud of the success they’ve enjoyed, which has made this year unique. Including winning the Frisco ISD Tournament Champion, the team went 31-5 overall and 14-0 in District to win the championship for a second year in a row. The girls were also Bi-District and Area champions.
“We were successful this year because every practice we worked until we couldn’t anymore,” junior guard Breona Caufield said. “Every game we played to our full potential. We put sweat, tears, intelligence and love into the game. Each game we prepared by getting each other hype.”
Hardy said the players worked incredibly hard preparing for each game. Aside from long hours of practice, the team would study their opponents the day before every game. Hardy said the team’s successes stemmed from the students’ willingness to do what other teams aren’t willing to do.
“We were successful because we played hard, smart and together,” Lester said. “Before each game, we warmed up very hard and broke a sweat to gain energy.”
At the district competition, Richardson players received several awards. Junior guard Arleighshya McElroy received MVP, Lester was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Hardy received Coach of the Year.
“I felt just a feeling of accomplishment for the girls because I knew how hard they had worked,” Hardy said. “To be able to achieve what they’ve been working so hard for was just a lot of fun as a coach to get to see. Because when the lights are on, it’s fun to perform – it’s easy to perform – but when it’s practice or when you’re by yourself, that when it makes a difference.”
Senior point guard Nautica Grant and junior forward Dorian Branch won first team All-District. Junior forward Reon Eaton and Caufield got Honorable Mention while senior forward Siobhan O’Casey and Lester received Academic All-District. The players also have their own personal highlights from this year.
“A memory that stands out is when we used to sing mash up songs in the locker room together,” Lester said.
With two seniors on the team, the girls said they will feel a void next year without two of their core players.
“I will miss our seniors the most because they brought so much identity and energy to the team,” Branch said.
However, Hardy said her goals for the team will be the same as this year. Beginning this offseason, students are preparing to build upon their success and qualify for the state tournament.
“I think what we do is we’re going to work really hard this offseason, and our goals are going to be the same ones next year,” Hardy said. “We want to go to the state tournament. We feel that we have the talent to do it. We just need to get there, and it’s time to.”
Hardy said she wanted next year’s team to realize how close the school is to reaching the state tournament for the first time in Richardson history.
“I want them to also think about what they can do differently to get us to that next step,” Hardy said. “So, I want them to be hungry, ready to compete and ready to get after it, so that we don’t leave it up to one point in the future.”
As for the past season, Hardy said she’s most proud of how the team formed a cohesive unit that was never discouraged by challenges or hardships.
“I’m just so proud of the way our girls competed every night,” Hardy said. “No matter what was going on around them, they played hard, they played together and they had a lot of fun. And I think as a coach that’s one of the things that you’re always most proud of. Taking individuals and then them morphing and becoming a team – that’s one of the most special things to watch, and as a coach, you kind of get a front row seat to see that.”
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