Twice as Nice
In Doubleheader in Rockdale, La Grange Boys and Girls Grab Historic Playoff Victories
No La Grange girls basketball team has ever advanced past the third round of the playoffs.
This year’s Lady Leps are one win away from doing so.
With a 67-59 victory over Waco Robinson Tuesday in Rockdale, the Lady Leps won the area title and advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
“I’m so glad we get to keep playing together,” said La Grange senior Kailee Jones.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in the third round and it feels really special,” said La Grange head girls basketball coach Heath Golan. “This group of girls has come a long way and overcome so much. It’s good to see them succeed.”
But it wasn’t easy – even though the Lady Leps (12-5) made it look like it would be easy early on Tuesday.
La Grange took a 17-point lead into the lockeroom at halftime, but Robinson roared back amidst a flurry of three-pointers.
Robinson made nine such long range shots in all Tuesday, including three in back-to-back-to-back fashion early in the fourth quarter to trim the La Grange advantage to just 56- 53 with five minutes left in the game.
“We were pretty hyped up (at halftime),” said La Grange senior Megan Brothers. “We were excited but we came back too laid back, but we ended up pulling it.
“Coach Golan told us, this is it, either win it or not.”
The Lady Leps halted that comeback.
Brothers made a nifty reverse lay-up to put La Grange back up 58-53, and she and Keslyn Davis kept the points coming late to ensure the victory.
“We knew coming in they could get hot,” Golan said of Robinson. “The 17-point lead never felt like it. Felt like seven. When they got hot, they got on a roll and it was tough to shut them down.
“It just came down to composure for us, knowing we could get a stop on the defensive end and get a good shot or run some time and escape.”
Brothers had a monster game, scoring 31 points.
“She’s been gritty here lately, she got hurt but she said, I’m good, I’m ready to go back,” Golan said.
“Playoffs, it’s a whole other energy,” Brothers said. “As a senior, being here four years, I knew with a young team I had to get the energy going so they could generate off of it.”
Six other Lady Leps scored, though none got into double-digits. Camille Gonzalez was a real spark off the bench for the Lady Leps, scoring eight.
The Lady Leps now advance to face Waco La Vega Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown High School.
2/23/21
La Grange girls 67, Robinson 59
La Grange 25 16 13 14 – 67
Robinson 15 9 18 17 – 59
La Grange scoring: Aysia Grant 6, Kailee Jones 4, Camille Gonzalez 8, Maddi Fritz 4, Ariel Thompson 3, Keslyn Davis 9, Megan Brothers 31.