The Cubs Made the Playoffs
After losing at Quanah Tuesday, Feb. 12, the Cubs were in a three-way tie with Quanah and Windthorst. With only two open spots in the playoffs, the teams had to play each other to see who would go to the playoffs. Needing only a win against Quanah to make the playoffs, the Cubs defeated Quanah in Holiday Thursday, Feb. 14, 48-46 in overtime.
Carter Hinson (Cub’s player No. 2) said, “I can’t believe it. The first half, we didn’t expect them to come out like that, and we didn’t control it well, but the second half we just took over and our confidence came back.”
When asked how he felt, Parker Mayers (Cub’s player # 10) said, “I feel pretty good right now. I’m kind of on cloud nine. I was a little bit stressed at the beginning. It was getting pretty close there at the first of the game. We didn’t come out like we needed to. It kind of got us in a slump. At halftime, we went in there, and I talked to the guys. I said you know we need to get our heads together, let’s get it together right now, let’s go, let’s win this game. Let’s win this for our community; we owe it to them. They’re out here supporting us, let’s go do it. That second half we came back, started working off those points they had on us and then the fifth quarter we just exploded, and everyone clicked, and it all came together,” Mayers said.
Coach Pennington expressed his pride in the team, “It’s all about the kids. They stayed with the game in the second half, and they fought being down, which is hard to do. They kept playing and believing in themselves, and we finally got a few breaks because early on we couldn’t make a shot. I knew that if we ever made a shot that we were going to win. The play at the end, these kids, you never know what they are going to do, but today they put out. Last year we were 1-13 in district and this year being in the playoffs means a lot to me for the kids. I am just proud.”
“It was pretty rough at the beginning of the game,” stated Cesar Flores, “but we just had to start making our shots and dig down deep and play. The team played [well]. When one of us is not on [our game], someone will step up and that’s what I love about this team. We are a brotherhood and we’re going to keep fighting for one another.”
The Cubs played their first playoff game in Lipan Monday, Feb. 18 against the Goldthwaite Eagles.