Lady Bulldogs Head to Playoffs

DAYTON - As basket­ball season comes to a close and post-season play begins, Dayton's lady Bulldogs gear up for playoffs with hard work, determination and a little superstition.

Seniors McKayla Bick­elhaupt, Jessica Tate, Malia Frame and Samantha Hart­ing took a few minutes out of practice to indulge on excite­ment about the playoffs and some of the strategy on their minds during the coming practices.

Frame, who is recovering from being sick is focused on getting healthy. She said she expects teams they take on in playoffs to bring the same level of intensity the Bulldogs will have in every game.

"Our games are definitely going to be aggressive and rough against district seven," Frame said.

So practicing just as hard will help give the girls an edge. Leading up to the big games this weekend, Bick­elhaupt said she hopes the team will be able to keep up that force.

"(I hope we) Practice hard and have a good at­titude that will get your momentum up for Friday," Bickelhaupt said.

Bickelhaupt said the team will be working on more defense and executing their offense more.

"Also finishing shots is going to be big," Bickel­haupt said. "During post season finishing shots is go­ing to be key, especially in districts."

For a team that has won some very narrow games, connecting the ball with the net will be essential. So the girls will also be focusing on the essentials, free throws, rebounds and steals, which have served them well this season.

"I don't think you can ever practice the fundamen­tals enough," Harting said.

Harting said looking back at the season this year and last year's season, the hours they've logged working on basic skills have served them well.

"If you look at our season this year compared to last year, we've grown so much," Harting said. "(But) now that it's post season we have to bear down."

Tate said the Bulldogs will have a few advantages this year. First, the team has played a long season of high-stress games with close scores. When only a few points determine the game, teams can often psych themselves out, but the Bull­dogs will be ready for those stresses while district seven teams are used to blowouts.

Tate said they also have the advantage of being unex­pected winners.

"We've been the under­dogs for a couple of years," Tate said. "People don't expect us to do well."

Harting said another key component to their suc­cess will be keeping their composure when the stress gets overwhelming. And head coach Clayton Strong's composure is as important as the players keeping their cool, Harting said. When the girls get overwhelmed or frustrated on the court, he is on the sidelines to keep them calm and offer suggestions, as opposed to taking the stereotypical angry coach persona.

"I don't think I could play for coaches like that (who are angry and yell at their team)," Harting said.

As for pre-game rituals to de-stress, Bickelhaupt said the team has it covered.

"We do this little clap thinghellip; I think it's good luck, actually," Bickelhaupt said.

She and Frame started their synchronized routine of clapping their hands in the air and against the tops of their thighs and as the rhythm carried across the gym, a few other girls from the team joined in until the claps echoed around the room like a chorus of tap dancers.

When the girls returned to practice, Strong took a mo­ment to talk about his excite­ment in advancing.

Strong said he knows the team has a tough road ahead but they can play together as a group, making them a stronger opponent.

"We've got some strong teams to face," Strong said. "But we'll see where the chips lie."

Now, Strong said he is happy the team is showing camaraderie and working together.

Next week we'll talk with the WP girls basketball play­ers about their trip to the playoffs.