Paxton girls hoops advances to state semis

By RANDY DICKSON

randyd@nwfdailynews.com

PAXTON — The chants rising to the rafters of the Paxton gym as the seconds ticked off the clock told the story.

Cries of “All the way to state,” filled the gym and as the final horn sounded.

Yes, the Paxton girls basketball team is headed back to the state tournament for the first time since 1997 after a 44-37 win over FAMU High in the Class A regional finals.

The Bobcats (25-5) will meet Trinity Christian, a 66-52 winner over Northwest Christian game in the state semifinals on Wednesday in Lakeland. Game time is 10:30 a.m. locally.

“I’m motivated,” senior post player Vikki Pepper said. “This is the best feeling in the world.

“We (the Paxton seniors) have worked so hard, and practiced so hard for this since the sixth grade.”

The work and preparation came together perfectly in the second quarter when the Bobcats outscored the Baby Rattlers 15-4 to break open a close game.

Pepper and Erin Walker provided the inside game in the period and Maryllyn Gilbert provided a spark from the outside with a pair of 3s.

Gilbert led all scorers with 16 points as she hit on four 3-pointers. Walker, Pepper and Emmalee Infinger each had eight points.

“I just ran our plays and my teammates did a great job of getting me the ball,” Walker said. “We just had to beat them on the boards to get it done.”

Walker and Pepper spearheaded Paxton’s attack on the boards.

At the intermission, Paxton led the battle of the boards 14-10 and continued to pound the glass throughout the game.

The Bobcats led 27-16 at the half and although FAMU (19-7) continued to chip away at the lead, the Baby Rattlers never got closer than five points in the second half.

Paxton led 34-26 at the start of the fourth quarter, and a 3-pointer by Infinger pushed the lead up to 11 with 7:16 left in the game.

That’s when Bobcat coach Herb Haddock decided to literally hold on for the win as Paxton pulled back and ran a stall offense the rest of the game.

“I decided if we got a big lead we’d pull it out and take the ugly win,” Haddock said.

“I’m elated. We’ve been a feather away (from state) three or four times in the last few years, and it’s good to be going back.”

FAMU 12 4 10 11 — 37

Paxton 12 15 7 10— 44

FAMU (37)

Brown 8, Davis 8, Ka. Green 5, Ke. Green 2, Leland 14. Totals 10 3 8-15 37.

PAXTON (44)

Maryllyn Gilbert 16, Erin Walker 8, Stevie Davidson 4, Vikki Pepper 8, Emmalee Infinger 8. Totals 10 6 5-8 44.