VALDOSTA —
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
The Lady Blazers host Alabama-Huntsville, who is currently tied for the Gulf South Conference lead, tonight and North Alabama Saturday night. Both games are must-wins if the Lady Blazers want to remain in the hunt for the conference’s regular season crown.
“This time of year, all these games become magnified,” Valdosta State head coach Kiley Hill said. “Yes, they are all big games this time of year and our kids understand that, I believe. We don’t talk about that a whole lot. Our focus is always on the next game and being the best team on that day, and that is what we have done these past two or three months.”
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Lady Blazers currently sit third in the conference standings, behind Huntsville and Delta State.
For the Lady Blazers to move into second place, it would take two wins this weekend and Huntsville falling on Saturday night at West Florida. If that scenario plays out, the Lady Blazers would trail just the Lady Statesmen with three conference games remaining before the conference tournament in early March.
Regardless if Valdosta State moves into second place following this weekend or not, two wins would put the Lady Blazers in position to at least lock themselves into a top three seed entering the conference tournament.
“This week does have some implications from a league standpoint, to a seeding standpoint, but also a nationally perspective and a regional, NCAA opportunity,” Hill said. “Because the first set of (regional) rankings come out next week, these games become big factors in that with Alabama-Huntsville and North Alabama are coming here with pretty good records.”
The chances of the Lady Blazers picking up wins this weekend are good. After all, Valdosta State led in the meetings with the Lady Chargers and Lady Lions earlier this season, which were both played on the road.
Against Alabama-Huntsville, the Lady Blazers were hot in the opening half, shooting a solid 51 percent before cooling off considerably in the second half, shooting just 25 percent.
“Offensively, we were just chaotic at times,” Hill said. “We got away from the discipline-style of play that we normally play.”
Despite the loss, Brittany Ferguson and Courtney Mitchell each recorded double-doubles as the Lady Blazers scored 42 points in the paint against.
A major Achilles heel for the Lady Blazers was the play of Huntsville’s Jordan Smith, who scored a game-high 26 points in the winning effort for the Lady Chargers.
“From a coaching perspective, I have gone back and re-evaluated things that we have done,” Hill said. “From a players perspective, you don’t want to repeat history, but you also have to learn from history, or you will repeat it.”
Less than 48 hours after falling to Huntsville, the Lady Blazers were handed a second-straight loss when they visited North Alabama. VSU led nearly the entire game, but a late surge by UNA forced the game into overtime. In the extra session, North Alabama pulled away, using 11 overtime free throws to secure the win.
“We just have to focus on finishing,” Senior guard Sczeny Hartry said. “Coach Hill has a great game plan, as far as what we are supposed to do.”
The Lady Blazers have since rebounded from those back-to-back losses last month, posting a 5-1 record. During that streak, Ferguson was named Player of the Week in the conference for a fourth time this season, and Hartry became the latest Lady Blazer to move into the 1,000 career-point club, accomplishing the feat last Saturday at Christian Brothers.
“It was a special moment,” Hartry said about joining the 1,000-point club. “I was just honored to be in category with so many great players that played here before me. It was just a real special moment.”
Saturday’s game versus North Alabama will serve as VSU’s annual Pink Zone game.
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Valdosta State’s Courtney Mitchell (32) goes up for a jump shot in a game versus Christian Brothers in late January. Mitchell and the Lady Blazers host Alabama-Huntsville tonight at 6 p.m. Ed Hooper
Discussion
Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
Valdosta State hosts Alabama-Huntsville tonight at 6 p.m.
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