By Malcolm Butler
If the first game between the two teams is any indication of things to come, as the former iconic college football announcer Keith Jackson used to say, “Whoa Nellie!”
Cedar Creek travels to Ouachita Christian tonight with the District 2-1A girls title implications squarely on the line.
The Lady Cougars (14-9, 3-0) hold a one-game lead over the Lady Eagles (17-8, 2-1) in the four-team race for the district title. OCS is ranked No. 5 in the latest GeauxPreps.com power ratings while Cedar Creek is No. 7.
Cedar Creek head coach Katie Hall knows it will be an intense night on the hardwood.
“I think they both teams are going to be excited and ready to play,” said Hall. “You don’t have to pump players up for either team for this game. It’s a matter of who will keep their composure. It will be a great atmosphere. Friday night. District game. This is what we play for all season.”
Hall said she doesn’t have to educate her players about what is on the line in this game.
“They are definitely aware of what is at stake,” said Hall. “I do feel like they all know that and are ready to own that. They are confident in themselves. We are playing with confidence and that is a good thing.”
The one-game lead came by virtue of the Lady Cougars 58-57 win over OCS just over a week ago at The Brickhouse in a game that saw Creek lead by 18 entering the fourth quarter. However, it took a Mallory Smith 3-pointer with 13 seconds to play to give the Lady Cougars the win.
In that fourth quarter, OCS — who sat in a zone for most of the first three quarters — utilized a full-court press to turn the Lady Cougars over and get back into the game. Hall said she fully expects to see more of that tonight.
“Absolutely,” said Hall. “That’s what we are focusing a lot on. We didn’t handle it. We have seen it before. We have been in that position before, but we didn’t handle it that night. I fully anticipate seeing that (from OCS), and we will be ready for it.”
Cedar Creek has won three in a row and seven of its last eight games, with the lone loss coming at home against Quitman. OCS has won two straight and eight of its last 10 games with the only losses coming to Claiborne Christian and Cedar Creek.
Hall said she is expecting to see the best version of both teams tonight.
“I am expecting (OCS) to hit their shots a little more because they are in their gym, their comfort zone,” said Hall. “They will know what to expect from us. It’s a new era here and different (schemes) and now they know and have a feel for what that looks like compared to what it has been in the past.”
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at Ouachita Christian.
