The community started to visualize the limitless possibilities, most notably reaching the state tournament, that this talented cast could achieve.
“It was mainly the parents that were like, ‘Y’all can do it,’” Boydstun said.
As they continued to dominate junior high school opponents by scores of 64-4, 50-6 or 60-9 - holding nearly every team to single digits, according to Pipes - that realization started to set in.
“We didn’t really warm up to it until the seventh grade when we started getting into athletics,” said Sebek, who along with Boydstun and Pipes said their 44-30 loss to Academy this season was their first career district basketball loss.
In just Year 2 of high school, the four sophomores - along with solid senior Danielle Hazzard - played the biggest roles in making the dream a reality.
Just two victories away from the ultimate prize, the upstart Lady Eagles (27-9) face the No. 18-ranked Woodville Lady Eagles (31-4) at 8:30 a.m. today in a Class 2A University Interscholastic League state semifinal at Frank Erwin Center.
Perhaps, the Salado youngsters are ahead of schedule in making their school’s third UIL state tournament appearance in basketball - the 1999 team was 30-8 and finished as runner-up; the 1962 squad was 38-3 and finished fourth when Salado played 3-on-3.
Or perhaps these Lady Eagles expected this instant success. Either way, each player made important contributions to get them to Austin.
n Boydstun, 5-8: Made a driving layup and defended Vanderbilt Industrial’s potential game-tying shot.
n Hazzard, 5-10: After scoring just nine points in the first three playoff games, she produced 15 in the first three quarters against Weimar to keep the Lady Eagles within striking distance.
n Joiner, 5-9: Hit the game-winning jumper against No. 17 Hempstead, made the go-ahead 3-pointer against Industrial, then redeemed herself for missing two late free throws by making the game-winning foul shots against Weimar.
n Pipes, 5-8: Deflected Hempstead’s final inbound pass that forced a poor final shot, made a key steal late against Industrial and scored off a Boydstun pass to tie the game against Weimar in overtime.
n Sebek, 5-10: Hit the game-tying 3 against Industrial, scored to start the state-clinching 8-0 run against Weimar and made a steal with 35 seconds left to set up Joiner’s free throws.
Reserves Kaylan Hearne and Lorna Payne have also played a part. Senior Hearne defended Weimar’s Chelsea Soto on the Lady Cats’ final possession and eventually grabbed the rebound that preserved the victory. Freshman Payne scored five critical points to keep the Lady Eagles close in the first half against Industrial.
Overlooked is the collaborative defensive effort by Salado’s zone defense instituted by first-year coach Randy Henderson.
Described as a mix between a matchup 2-3 and an amoeba-style look in which the players have no boundary restrictions, the Lady Eagles have found ways to wear down opponents for lengthy spells.
Salado allowed just one first-half field goal in its bi-district rout of No. 20 Karnes City. Against Hempstead, the Lady Eagles gave up a total of 11 points in the second and third quarters before holding on for the 43-42 win.
Industrial scored 20 points in the first 10 minutes but went cold after that in Salado’s 44-41 victory. Weimar was cruising along before scoring just six points from the 2-minute mark of the third until 7 seconds were left in the fourth.
“I think your defense is a factor. Fatigue is another and so is the fickleness of shooting,” said Henderson, who led Port Aransas to the 2007 Class A Division I state tournament. “If you come out hot, all of a sudden when this shot misses it kind of snowballs. I think it’s a combination of all those small things.”
That defense will be put to the test to slow down Woodville juniors Meisha McNeal (5-9) and Brooke Taylor (5-6), who average 15 and 14 points per game, respectively, and are returning starters from last year’s state semifinalist squad.
McNeal, the tallest Woodville player, leads a balanced team that utilizes its speed and quickness similar to that of Hempstead.
When Henderson was asked whether Woodville likes to shoot the 3, press or play half-court defense, he replied: “They do whatever they feel is best against their opponent.”
In today’s 10 a.m. semifinal, five of No. 2 Bowie’s top six players stand 5-10 or taller, while No. 8 Brock - guided by former Copperas Cove coach Skip Townsend - is coming off a win over top-ranked Winnsboro.
Salado likely is considered 2A’s underdog, but after showing tremendous resiliency in three straight dramatic wins to earn a trip to state, one can’t count out the Lady Eagles.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
