Meridian Girls Win at State Tounament

By Meridian • February 17th, 2010

The Meridian Girls basketball team won their first round game at the State 1A Basketball tournament game by beating the Lady Mustangs from Bryce Valley High School 41-39. This is the first State Tournament win by the Meridian girls basketball team in school history.

The team, coached by Travis Madsen were undefeated in Region play and entered the tournament as the Region 18 #1 Seed. The Meridian team is anchored by 4 starting seniors (Danielle Langston, Estee Arts, Jenna Higgins, and Rachel Allen) with freshman Jenna Crowther filling the final starting position.

The win was sweet revenge for the Mongooses who lost to the Lady Mustangs in the 1A Preseason Preview on the same court.

During the state tournament game, the Mongoose started with a quick basket to lead 2-0, but then went on a first quarter dry spell to end the first quarter behind 12-4. The second quarter Meridian outscored the Lady Mustangs by one point and went into the locker room at halftime behind by 7 points.

The Meridian team fought their way back into the game and tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Estee Arts scored two consecutive layups with under a minute to go in the game to give the Mongoose a 4 point lead and then the team held on to win the game 41-39.

The Lady Mustangs had a chance to win the game or tie with 1.7 seconds left to play but missed a three pointer at the buzzer.

Estee Arts led all players with 19 points including her two huge baskets in the final minute of play to seal the win.

For the second round, Meridian plays the Duchesne Eagles Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 8:30pm MST.