Cowgirls make history wrangling Warriors in regional quarterfinals
February 23, 2023
Coppell junior guard Ella Spiller celebrates after the Cowgirls defeated South Grand Prairie at Irving MacArthur on Tuesday. Coppell defeated South Grand Prairie, 43-39, to advance to the Region I semifinals against Southlake Carroll on Friday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth.
IRVING – Basketball is a sport of constantly moving forward – forward on the court, eyes fixed on the rim, moving past the accumulating adversity and onto the next game – but that’s not all the Coppell girls basketball culture strives for.
Tuesday night, the Coppell girls basketball team faced South Grand Prairie in the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals, defeating the Warriors, 43-39, after receiving a shot at redemption. Last year, the Cowgirls fell to the Warriors in the same round of playoffs, ending their season with a difficult loss, but was able to move forward and overcome the team this year.
However, Tuesday night was historic for the team for another reason: Per the Coppell girls basketball team, the Cowgirls advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1990, when current CHS Principal Laura Springer was the girls basketball coach.
After their victory against South Grand Prairie, the Cowgirls advance to the Region I semifinals against Southlake Carroll on Friday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth.
As the announcer’s voice booms over the speakers, the Coppell girls basketball team steps out onto the glossy court, nearly every seat in the stands filled.
SGP junior guard Taliyah Parker scores a 3-pointer, the Coppell stands gasping while the SGP stands cheer in excitement. The score is now 41-39 Coppell, everyone in the gym standing up now, waiting in anticipation for the game to end, to have the comfort of knowing who will advance.
Coppell senior guard Jules LaMendola is knocked down to the floor with 6.4 seconds remaining in the game. She picks herself back up, trudging over to the free throw line. LaMendola scores both shots, securing the Cowgirls’ victory over SGP.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, LaMendola finds herself battling against the Warriors, grasping at the rim for the rebound. LaMendola fights alone under the basket, up against all five of SGP’s players. LaMendola snatches the ball from the air, then returns it quickly to the basket, scoring a bucket for Coppell and extending the team’s lead to 34-32.
South Grand Prairie has possession when sophomore guard Taylor Barnes scores a bucket, tying the game, 34-34, drawing a timeout from the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls return to the court, hope swelling in their fans, engulfed by the sheer intensity of the game. Coppell junior guard Ella Spiller sits in the right corner of the court when the ball finds her hands. Spiller instinctively launches into the air, the ball flying off her fingertips, the crowd watching with bated breath.
Swish.
The stands leap up from their seats, their voices thundering together into a single rhythm, boosting the Cowgirls’ momentum as Spiller can’t help but smile.
The Cowgirls’ lead extends to 37-34, then the Cowgirls gain possession again with 50 seconds remaining in the game. Spiller finds herself on the right side of the court again, entrapped by Warriors. Spiller lobs the ball over her head to LaMendola, who draws the guards to the left side, leaving Spiller open. LaMendola then launches the ball back to Spiller, who drives to the basket and scores a layup.
Coppell is still ahead, now 39-34, when SGP calls a timeout in hopes of turning the game around and defeating the Cowgirls in playoffs for the second year in a row.
“Defense! Defense! Defense!,” the Coppell stands chant in unison as they watch the time expire in the game, hoping the Cowgirls will be able to maintain their lead.
The clock buzzes as the time in the game expires and the Cowgirls crash in on each other, celebrating their long-awaited defeat over the Warriors. The crowd rushes onto the court to greet them, the student section now surrounding the team, parents and teachers watching as they wipe the tears from their eyes.
Follow Ava (@Avakjohnson4) and @SidekickSports on Twitter.