As the district is coming to an end for the Arabian varsity basketball team, playoffs are about to begin. After a tough, well-fought game and a win against the Somerset Bulldogs on Friday,  February 1 in Somerset, the Arabians secured the District Champions title. Finishing their last district game on Tuesday, February 8 with a win and the first seat in the district, they begin to practice for the first round of playoffs. 

“During the last minute of the Somerset game was the most hectic, but also the best moments of that game,” senior Yessika Garza said. 

Being down six points with 23 seconds left on the clock and the Bulldogs with possession, senior Macey Hein fouls to stop the clock and send the Bulldog to the free-throw line. She misses the first free throw but makes the second, putting Somerset up by seven with 23 seconds left. The Arabians inbound the ball, senior Lacey Shook dribbled down the court and pulled up at the three-point line, and put it in with seventeen seconds left. Coach J then calls a time-out with the Arabians down four points. Coming out of the timeout, Somerset inbounds the ball under the basket while the Arabians press full court. They threw the ball deep, and sophomore Denise Conteras stole the pass, dribbled down to the three-point line, and made a three with ten seconds left of the game. This puts the Arabians down by one (53-52). Somerset inbounds the ball under the basketball for the last time while the Arabians are in their man-to-man press. The ball gets loose after Garza picks the ball from Somerset’s hands. The Arabians were diving on the floor for the ball trying to get a shot in to win the game. Garza grabs the ball off the ground and puts it up with 0.01 seconds after the clock malfunctioned and stopped, giving Garza just enough time to get the ball in the hoop. After the referees discussed the play, they said the basket was good, and the Arabians went home with a win and the District Championship. 

“Our whole team really pulled together and kept fighting to the very end, literally. I couldn’t be more proud of how we played the second half and I’m really excited to see what we do in playoffs,” Garza said. 

Before the Arabians started district play, they all made the goal to go at least four rounds deep in playoffs. By winning and being undefeated in their district, it is looking very bright for the girls these next few weeks. 

“I believe as long as we keep growing as a team and work hard in practice we will be very successful in the playoffs,” Shook said. “We set the goal of going at least four rounds into playoffs, and I know we’ll make it happen.”