Lady Maniacs make history

by Mike Butler

Orofino's Lady Maniacs made history today with their first appearance in State 2A Basketball Playoffs. This is the first Lady Maniac basketball team to go to state.

They met the Soda Springs Lady Cardinals in basketball action at Middleton High School.

Both the Orofino and Soda Springs teams had a huge case of the butterflies as action began. Capri Savage scored the first two points of the tournament but not until the clock had ticked off two minutes into the game. The Lady Maniacs controlled the game and the score until a minute and five seconds left in the first half. Jessica Roby ended the first quarter with a big three point shot. Due to the aggressiveness of the defense for the Cardinals, there was a lot of fouls called in the second quarter that kept Orofino going from the points gathered at the foul line. Soda Springs also started to hit their three point shots towards the end of the half. Half time score was Soda Springs 20 Orofino 16.

Scoring for both teams in the third quarter was very minimal. The Lady Maniacs forgot where the hoop was and shot all around it. Soda Springs' defense was at a higher level than the first half. Orofino's defense was just as good as the Cardinals. The Cardinal's scored only six points in the third while Orofino shot only five points.

The story continued in the fourth quarter much the same as the third except that Orofino got into foul trouble and Soda Springs started finding the hoop. Roby fouled out with 4:56 left on the clock. None of the Soda Springs players got into trouble due to the depth of their bench. They also improved their play and had less fouls in the second half.

Roby was the top scorer for Orofino with 10 points. Kristina Homolova helped with eight. OHS shot 23 percent from the field and 44 percent from the free throw line. The final for Orofino's first state playoff game was Soda Springs 41 Orofino 29.

The next game for the Lady Maniacs is Friday Feb. 17 at 12:15 p.m. PST. They will play the loser of the second game between New Plymouth and Firth. This will be a loser out game.

Photo: The Lady Maniacs Varsity Basketball Team and their coaches posed for photos earlier in the season. They are from left: back, Pam Gross, Chad Easterbrook, Tandee Perrin, Stephanie McPherson, Kurt Savage, Justin Haag, Monique Stamper; middle, Tawnya Brink, Ellen Rouse, Jessica Roby; front, Crystal Hixson, Shanna Herman and Kristina Homolova'.