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Calm before the storm: With regular season over, Mesquite girls prepare for playoff run
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
The regular season ca to an end for girls basketball on Tuesday night with some teams finetuning their games for the upcoming playoffs and many others simply hoping to go out on a high note.
The Mesquite girls did not hit the court on Tuesday, having wrapped up their regular season with an impressive 57-52 victory over Rockwall on Friday that clinched the No. 2 seed out of District 12-5A.
But while the Skeeters (21-11, 10-2) might be enjoying a short, physical break with their bye, there is still work to be done.
The Skeeters could have faced one of three teams going into the night, but Littlefield chose wisely, as she saw Lakeview fall to Rowlett, 58-56. They will meet the Patriots in a Class 5A bi-district playoff game on Monday at 7 p.m. at Royse City High School.
Mesquite feels it will be ready for the challenge. The Skeeters appear to be peaking at the right time, having won eight of their last nine games since the start of the new year.
Even in the one loss--a 46-44 setback to district-leading Horn on Jan. 18--Littlefield saw positives.
"Overall we've played well, I think the girls have really stepped up," she said. "In the Horn game, we had the one really bad quarter where we got 20 down, but they really turned it up and were actually able to come back. ... we had our chances at the end, we just didn't get it.
"These girls never quit. That is the one thing I have said about all my teams at Mesquite, they don't quit and they play you until the end."
The Skeeters are by no means a one-player show. Brianna Williams has been the catalyst, averaging 13.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. Briana Caro, one of the most dangerous outside shooters in the area, is averaging better than 11 points and 2.4 three-pointers per game.
Viershanie Latham gives opponents headaches with her versatility and athleticism, scoring nearly 10 points and pulling down eight rebounds per game.
While different players have stepped up at different times, Mesquite is especially tough to beat when they are on the same page, as they were in the last Rockwall victory when Williams, Caro, Latham and Brittany Pearson all scored in double figures.
The playoff experience will not be a new one for the Skeeters, many of whom were key parts of last year's team that came within a whisker of the regional tournament with a 58-57 loss to DeSoto in the regional quarterfinals.
"I think they are hungry to get back and they want to go further than last year, so that is good," Littlefield said. "They know what to expect and I hope by being there before they will have the confidence to step up when they need to."
Before they can embark on what they hope is a lengthy playoff journey, Mesquite must play the waiting game. The Skeeters opted not to play a warm-up game this week, meaning they will be well-rested when the posteason gets started on Monday or Tuesday.
But as for any concerns about lingering rust due to the layoff, the Skeeters are relying on themselves to take care of any such problem.
"We need to play with the same focus that we have in practice," Littlefield said. "Intensity, passion and hard work will get you far. We need to continue to do those things, especially on defense. That is what has gotten us where we are."
Follow Devin Hasson on Twitter at @DevinHasson
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