Lady Cats Ready To Begin District Play Next Week
The start of the 2023-2024 season has been a great one for the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats, winning 18 of their first 25 games and setting themselves up to make a playoff run in the upcoming weeks. Getting some much needed rest during Christmas break, the Lady Cats return to action next week, with one final non-district game, before opening district play next Friday.
Coming into the season, the expectations were pretty high for Sulphur Springs, as they were predicted to finish second place in District 15-4A by TABC. So far, the Lady Cats have done nothing except exceed expectations and look to be in great position to continue to do so.
Sulphur Springs opened the season back on Nov. 7, winning a pair of games against Sherman and Caddo Mills, before falling back to .500 with a pair of losses to Rains and Hooks, both of which are ranked in the TABC Top 25 for 3A. After the .500 start, the Lady Cats kicked things into another gear, going on a nine-game winning streak and climbing into the TABC Top 25 rankings.
During their nine-game winning streak, Sulphur Springs scored an impressive 49 points per game, while allowing just 35.5 points per game, outscoring their opponents on average by almost 15 points per game.
While the Lady Cats did come back down to Earth a bit after the nine-game winning streak, they have still played good basketball, going 7-5 in their next 12 games and scoring 42 points a night.
The break comes at a perfect time for the Lady Cats, who prior to Christmas Break had played 11 games in a 19-day span. Now with just one final non-district battle, they were given the chance for some much needed rest, along with the chance to work on their game in practice.
Of their seven losses this season, three of them have been to teams who are currently ranked in the TABC top 25, including a three-point loss to Hooks, a team who is ranked No. 18 in 3A and that Sulphur Springs would go on to get revenge against just a couple days later.
The Lady Cats return to action Wednesday with a day game against Palestine at 1:15 p.m. After that they kick district play off Friday night with a home game against Pleasant Grove, a team they swept in last seasons series, including a huge 70-41 win at home. Both games will be broadcast live on Chad’s Media and Front Porch News for anybody who can’t make it in person.
For Sulphur Springs, it’s not just the present that looks bright, but the future as well. The Lady Cats roster features just two seniors, with a vast majority of its’ production coming from underclassmen.
The Lady Cats see huge contributions from juniors Trinity Jefferson, Codee Roland, Vy Thomas, Aaliyah Cheatum, Kaylee Carter and Kyra Carter, as well as sophomores Tatum Thompson and Rainey Johnson, along with freshman Cami Shaack, who has already won multiple Way Bible Church Player of the Game awards.
Last season the Lady Cats finished in second place in the district and made the playoffs, but were swiftly eliminated in the Bi-District round. This year, they will be looking for another top-two finish and playoff appearance, but will be looking to make a much deeper run in the playoffs.
With a strong team that thrives on their team chemistry and roster depth, they should be able to do exactly that.
