GIDDINGS — Lady Bulldog basketball competed in their first playoff game against Thorndale High School Feb. 14 at Buffaloes Gym in Giddings and won a nail-biter by a final score of 5149. Flatonia's offense was in full force and they led for the major ity game as a result. Thorndlae was able to hang in with their long-range shooting, but Flato - nia's ability to convert their halfcourt sets, along with hitting free throws, ultimately won them the game. “Just staying focused on what we do," said Flatonia head girls basketball coach Robert Gray on his mindset down the stretch.
“We knew who their personnel was coming into the game and we locked in in film. Kind of just understanding their person nel and I was telling them in the huddle 'look, stick to what we're doing. Whatever adjustments we make, just make sure you execute and do the best you can. That's all you can ask for and they did that tonight."
Flatonia freshman point guard Summer Sodek put on a clinic with her shooting from way beyond the arc and her abili- ty to find ways to the rim, recording 32 total points. "I just go in there thinking everything's gon - na fall," Sodek said. "Just shoot it and if they're not going in, keep going." Flatonia jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first quarter on layup from freshman shooting guard Kalen Scott and a three from Sodek. Thorndale then made two of the same baskets to put the score at 8-7 before the Lady Bull - dogs stretched their lead to 17-8 on two more three-pointers from Sodek and a couple free throws from Scott at the 1:41 mark.
Sodek followed that up with an assist to Scott for a layup to go ahead 19-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Thorndale kept themselves in the game in the second quarter by hitting a ton of shots while Flatonia made a few layups and free throws to maintain their lead at 28-24 going into halftime.
After three consecutive layups from Flatonia at the be- ginning of the third quarter, Thonrdale made two layups and a free throw to cut the deficit to 34-32 with about thirty seconds to play. The Lady Bulldogs responded with a basket to take a 36-32 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Sodek hit two free throws at the 6:16 mark in the fourth quar - ter, then Thorndale answered with two fast break layups in a row to crawl within one point at 39-38. Sodek followed that up with a tough layup and long three pointer before Scott added a steal and layup with 3:48 to go to take a 46-38 lead, forcing Thorndale to call timeout. Flatonia decided to run clock in the final two minutes and Thorndale started to foul with a minute and a half left on the scoreboard. Flatonia hit all but one free throw to close out the game and Thorndale made things close with a jumper, steal, and long three to make it 48-47 at the nine second mark.
The Lady Bulldogs fouled in order to send Thorndale to the line in the last few seconds so they couldn't hit a three-pointer, then Sodek hit one free throw and Thorndale missed a last-second three for a 51-49 end result in favor of Flatonia.
