It doesn’t matter how difficult the problem might be. These resolute and remarkable Lady Devils just keep working until they have the solution.
The latest example came Thursday afternoon in the Class AA semifinals at the Macon Centreplex, where the undefeated and No. 2-ranked Model squad aced their biggest test yet –– and they did so amid adverse circumstances.
Despite seeing star forward Janaye Jasper go down with a knee injury in the first quarter, the Lady Devils valiantly pressed on and earned a 63-50 victory over Henry County to advance to Saturday’s championship game against top-ranked Buford.
Model (31-0), making its first appearance in the Final Four since 1997, was buoyed by a career-high 20 points from senior post player Maci Siniard. Fellow seniors Alexa Evans and Shelby Farrer added 11 points each.
“Today, this group just completely pulled together like a team is supposed to do,” said coach Sally Echols. “They were determined to complete this task.”
The win demonstrated once again exactly why this team, and this season, have been so special.
Although the Lady Devils led the game from start to finish, they were continuously tested by a pesky Henry County squad (23-9) that attacked Model’s lead with unrelenting ambition.
Henry County’s Briana Williams was persistently a problem, scoring a game-high 30 points to almost single-handedly keep the game close.
Still, the Lady Devils never flinched. They came up with key baskets every time the Lady Warhawks threatened.
Model’s defense, naturally, was a big part of the win. The Lady Devils, who are surrendering just 37 points per game, harassed Henry County into a 19-of-71 shooting performance.
“We knew we had to come out today and play like it was our last game,” said Siniard, who finished 10-of-12 from the floor and pulled down 10 rebounds. “So, really, I was just trying to play hard and do my best.”
Model led 33-23 at the half, and stretched the lead to as many as 14 points midway through the fourth quarter. But Henry County trimmed the lead to eight points midway through the period, and the Lady Devils never could completely relax –– at least not until the final seconds ticked off the clock.
“I thought it was never going to end,” said Echols, who played for the 1997 Model team that lost in the finals. “Those last several minutes lasted for-ev-er.”
Continuing their favorite theme, the Lady Devils received heroic contributions from a host of players.
Siniard, Evans and Farrer were at the forefront. The three combined to score 19 of Model’s 24 field goals, and their efforts proved huge after the early-game injury to Jasper (see related story, 4B).
Siniard and Farrer both registered double-doubles. And Evans? She played the role of senior leader by delivering a performance that featured equal doses of poise and clutch shots.
“I felt like my job today was to get the ball up the floor, and make sure we pushed it when we had the chance,” said Evans, the soft-spoken floor general.
Model’s Joy Hoskins, Taylor Martin,Lauren Shields, Rachael Turrentine, and Alex Patton also contributed key plays in the win.
Granted, the Lady Devils got sloppy at times. They committed 21 turnovers, and forced some shots instead of showing patience on several possessions.
And yet, every time they needed something good to happen, they found a way to ensure that it did. Whether it was Evans feeding a post player for a lay-up or Siniard burying a 14-foot jumper, the Lady Devils always delivered.
“This (win) speaks well of … our seniors,” said Echols. “We knew Henry County was going to keep coming at us. No team is going to lie down in the Final Four, so we knew we had to keep playing.”
Model set the tone for the win by racing out to a 15-5 lead in the first 3½ minutes of the first quarter. The Lady Devils made six of eight shots from the floor in that stretch, including going 4-of-4 in the first two minutes.
“That was huge,” said Echols. “Getting off to a start like that really helped the girls realize that this is the (same) game they’ve been playing all year.”
Henry County made a series of threatening runs in the second half, and eventually trimmed Model’s lead to 51-43 with 3:26 to play. But Siniard answered with a fast-break basket, and Model maintained a double-digit lead from there.
Now, the Lady Devils will attempt to take the final step in their magical season by beating the state’s No. 1 team.
“It’s every player’s dream to play for a state title,” said Echols, “and now that dream is here for these players.”
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet – but I know we are really, really excited,” said Siniard.
NOTE: Buford advanced to the finals by beating No. 3 Laney, 68-42.
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