Tigerettes just miss playoffs, split final games

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Tigerettes needed to win at least one game to have a shot at a play-in for playoffs.

They ended up doing that by splitting their last week of the District, a 43-26 win against the Childress Lady Cats and a 21-64 loss to the Shallowater Fillies.

That said, it was not enough to fight for a playoff spot, and the team finished fifth in District for the season.

That said, Head Coach Tiffany Potts couldn’t be more proud of the team during this season.

Even more so when the seniors were her first team to coach at Slaton High School. “This senior group of nine girls were my first group to coach throughout their high school career,” she said. “I have asked a lot of them from day one as we laid a foundation for years to come.“

Top scorer during the Childress’ game was Andrea Moreno with 12 points. Also scoring were Justyne Zapata with nine points, Payton Potts with seven points, Mary Jo Parker with five, Sam Gatica with four points, and Natalie Soto, Layni Claborn and Chloe Griffith with two points each.

The Shallowater game, while a loss, made Potts proud with how the team grew. “Shallowater is a top quality opponent and has multiple offensive threats on the floor at all times.  We did not do a great job defending the three-point line and it is hard to beat a great team with mental mistakes,” she said.

“Our kids fought hard and kept it close most of the first half but we struggled to score in the second half.  There is a reason the Fillies are the No. 1 ranked 3A team in the State. 

“I was so proud of the entire team for never quitting and never giving up.”

In the Shallowater game, top scorer was Parker with 11 points. Other top scorers were Moreno and Zapata with three points each, and Griffith and Gatica with two points each.

“Mary Jo Parker had a great game and handled all out deny pressure for the entire game and still was our leading scorer with 11 points and leading rebounder with five,” said Potts. “Andrea Moreno also was a huge factor on the defensive end with five blocks.”

Now the players move on to play other sports, just missing out on a chance to continue their season.

The nine seniors who will graduate are Isabella Botello, Claborn, Ti’Alice Young, Moreno, Parker, Griffith, Clarissa Perales, Soto and Zapata.

Potts said she was thankful for all the years working with the seniors and looks forward to the next season.

“This group really committed to the overall goals of the program and bought into the way we wanted to play on the defensive end of the floor.  This senior class is tenacious, hard–working, and plays with a lot of grit,” she added.

“The void left by these nine seniors will be felt. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of young ladies to coach, to love and to watch grow. They each have a bright future ahead of them in whatever they choose to pursue.”