Sports Update
Lady Panther prevail in fight to the finish
BY Andrew Snyder Staff Writer
With a fiery crowd at their backs, Plano East defeated Hebron in the most intense slug-out of the night.
Even with the Collin County football players colliding at Clark, Ron Poe and Eagle Stadium, this five-game match at Plano West was the Friday night highlight. Game scores of 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10 attest to that.
“It was a great spectator match,” said Karin Keeney, Hebron head coach. “I wish I had been in the stands.”
The final point of the match was scored by East junior Chandler Baker, who gave an errorless performance—literally—overall.
“I knew exactly where I wanted to hit it,” Baker said. “And I slammed it down.”
Baker had given the Lady Panthers the lead earlier in the match with three consecutive kills which moved the point spread from a 5-4 deficit to 7-5 lead in the final game. East maintained that advantage even in the face of a viscous Lady Hawks offense. Headed by senior Chanelle Baker and sophomore Tiffany Baker, who each tallied 13 kills, Hebron kept the ball moving fast and hard.
The Lady Panthers had trouble with the Bakers earlier in the match, but in Game 5 senior Wendy Krell shut them down.
“We got cautious and quiet swinging,” Keeney said. “You can’t stop swinging against a team like that. They played lights-out defense.”
Krell towered over the net, swatting away kill attempts or volleys that came too close. Balls that got past her were fielded adeptly by her teammates and transferred forward to Baker and senior Allison Brown for the finale.
“It was a huge win for us,” said Marcy Crabtree, East head coach. “I’m so proud of the girls, they held out under pressure and stepped up.”
That pressure was applied thickly during the four other games. East and Hebron adopted different styles and kept the match close. As in Game 5, the Lady Hawks focused their efforts into power offense as shown by the eight kills apiece from sophomores Olivia Okoro and Rachel Buckley.
When the teams were trading points Hebron would fall behind, but when their big hitters were connecting they could tally six or seven points in a row.
The Lady Panthers on the other hand spread their energy across the team.
“We played as a team,” Baker said. “We finally came together.”
Their point gains would come by three-and-fours and rely less on kills. Volleys would travel to the right player for the situation. If a Hebron defensive wall needed busting up, the volley would go to Baker or senior Mandie Freeman; if a shot needed setting up, the dib would go to senior Alex Woolsey.
Woolsey could always be relied on to handle the ball properly. She led in assists with 39 and had several laser-sight kills. She played intelligently and could find Hebron’s open spots and plug the ball there, whether it had to be hit from the front or side or hit hard or soft.
East’s playing scheme won out in the end and sent the Lady Hawks back home for good. But when it’s considered that three of their top athletes are only sophomores, the future still looks bright for Hebron. Two more years of deft offense can’t disappoint.
“We’re a young team,” Keeney said. “I’m proud of them and we’ll be back next year.”
Both coaches were proud; only the Lady Panthers were ecstatic as they advanced to the Region I Quarterfinals.
“We’re so pumped,” Baker said. “That was the most fun game we’ve played all season.”
East’s next opponent is Flower Mound Marcus, 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Colony High School.
Even with the Collin County football players colliding at Clark, Ron Poe and Eagle Stadium, this five-game match at Plano West was the Friday night highlight. Game scores of 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10 attest to that.
“It was a great spectator match,” said Karin Keeney, Hebron head coach. “I wish I had been in the stands.”
The final point of the match was scored by East junior Chandler Baker, who gave an errorless performance—literally—overall.
“I knew exactly where I wanted to hit it,” Baker said. “And I slammed it down.”
Baker had given the Lady Panthers the lead earlier in the match with three consecutive kills which moved the point spread from a 5-4 deficit to 7-5 lead in the final game. East maintained that advantage even in the face of a viscous Lady Hawks offense. Headed by senior Chanelle Baker and sophomore Tiffany Baker, who each tallied 13 kills, Hebron kept the ball moving fast and hard.
The Lady Panthers had trouble with the Bakers earlier in the match, but in Game 5 senior Wendy Krell shut them down.
“We got cautious and quiet swinging,” Keeney said. “You can’t stop swinging against a team like that. They played lights-out defense.”
Krell towered over the net, swatting away kill attempts or volleys that came too close. Balls that got past her were fielded adeptly by her teammates and transferred forward to Baker and senior Allison Brown for the finale.
“It was a huge win for us,” said Marcy Crabtree, East head coach. “I’m so proud of the girls, they held out under pressure and stepped up.”
That pressure was applied thickly during the four other games. East and Hebron adopted different styles and kept the match close. As in Game 5, the Lady Hawks focused their efforts into power offense as shown by the eight kills apiece from sophomores Olivia Okoro and Rachel Buckley.
When the teams were trading points Hebron would fall behind, but when their big hitters were connecting they could tally six or seven points in a row.
The Lady Panthers on the other hand spread their energy across the team.
“We played as a team,” Baker said. “We finally came together.”
Their point gains would come by three-and-fours and rely less on kills. Volleys would travel to the right player for the situation. If a Hebron defensive wall needed busting up, the volley would go to Baker or senior Mandie Freeman; if a shot needed setting up, the dib would go to senior Alex Woolsey.
Woolsey could always be relied on to handle the ball properly. She led in assists with 39 and had several laser-sight kills. She played intelligently and could find Hebron’s open spots and plug the ball there, whether it had to be hit from the front or side or hit hard or soft.
East’s playing scheme won out in the end and sent the Lady Hawks back home for good. But when it’s considered that three of their top athletes are only sophomores, the future still looks bright for Hebron. Two more years of deft offense can’t disappoint.
“We’re a young team,” Keeney said. “I’m proud of them and we’ll be back next year.”
Both coaches were proud; only the Lady Panthers were ecstatic as they advanced to the Region I Quarterfinals.
“We’re so pumped,” Baker said. “That was the most fun game we’ve played all season.”
East’s next opponent is Flower Mound Marcus, 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Colony High School.
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