Lady Bears start playoffs

The local girls high school basketball season has come to an end for the local Orange County schools except Little Cypress Mauriceville. Coach Eddie Michalko and his Lady Bears advanced as the number two seed for District 19-4A to the first round of the post season which was played Tuesday, February 14, against the Hamshire-Fannett Lady Longhorns at East Chambers.

Little Cypress Mauriceville dropped its final regular season game on Tuesday, February 7, at Jasper. The Lady Bulldogs edged the Lady Bears 44-43 to earn the third seed in the district when the playoffs started.

The West Orange Stark Lady Mustangs and the Bridge City Lady Cardinals played their final games of their seasons on the same Tuesday as the Lady Bears faced Jasper. The Lady Mustangs fell 74-41 to the district champion Silsbee Lady Tigers. West Orange Stark finished district in fifth place at 4-8 in district games. The Lady Cardinals lost to the fourth place Lumberton Lady Raiders 54-46 on the road.

The Orangefield Lady Bobcats battled down to the last game of the regular season for a berth in the post season. The Lady Bobcats played at Anahuac on Tuesday, February 7, needing a win and for the Warren Lady Warriors to lose against the Hardin Lady Hornets.

Orangefield completed its end of the bargain with a 27-24 victory over the Anahuac Lady Panthers. Kaylea Gravett scored 11 points and Greenlea Oldham contributed 7 points, 6 rebounds, a steal, and a blocked shot to help the Lady Bobcats win.

Unfortunately, Warren halted Hardin 52-44 last Tuesday. The triumph earned the Lady Warriors sole possession of fourth place in District 22-3A and the final playoff berth in the district.