The Midland Lady Bulldogs (13-19, 3-7) came out determined to give the Eastwood Troopers (26-5, 14-2) a run for their money, and a shot an an upset. While it was close in the early stages, Eastwood dominated most of the game in a commanding 60-23 win in the Class 6A bi-district playoff on Feb. 13.
After nearly two minutes without a score, it was the Midland Bulldogs who got on the board first. Briana Tarango found Kayden Young underneath the hoop for a layup to take a 2-0 lead. Olivia Morales of Eastwood responded with a three to take the lead, but Midland was able to go up by one on a layup by Izabella Campos. However, this would be the last time the Lady Bulldogs held a lead. The Troopers went on to score the next 14 points in the quarter, and it was a 17-4 lead at the end of the first.
Midland started the second quarter with plenty of energy, muscling their way for rebounds and playing solid defense. Eastwood found their footing, however, and the Troopers scored the next six points. Young was fouled on a shot attempt and made both her free throws to stop what was a 20-0 run for the Troopers.
Eastwood went on to score the next six points, but Campos stopped the run with a three to make it a 29-9 game with 2:15 left. A few seconds later, Tarango made a nice move to the basket and hit a left-handed layup to make it five straight points for Midland, and a 29-11 deficit. Natalee Tovar responded with a three for Eastwood to put the Troopers up 32-11. Tarango then drilled a three of her own, and Midland trailed 32-14.
Midland was outscored 17-10 in the second quarter and they were looking at a 34-14 deficit at the half. The top player for Midland was Tarango with five points and an assist. Campos also had five points, and Young had four points for the Lady Bulldogs at halftime.
It was all Troopers in the third quarter, as they didn’t allow a single point by Midland to go up 45-14 heading into the fourth. Jess Ikporo finally put the Lady Bulldogs on the board in the half, with a foul shot to make it a 45-15 game. After an Eastwood bucket, Tarango was fouled going to the hoop. She drained one of two free throws and it was a 47-16 lead for Eastwood. Eastwood extended their lead out to 53-16, but Cady Lange took an inbound pass and hit a three on a sweet catch-and-shoot play with 3:30 left. With 1:35 on the clock, Tarango was fouled driving to the basket. She made one of her free throws to make the score 53-20.
With 25 seconds on the clock, Campos showed plenty of fight and determination during her final moments of her senior season. She drove to the hoop and made the shot, and was fouled on the play for an and-one opportunity. Campos made the free throw and it was a 60-23 game, which would be the final.
Campos finished the game with eight points to lead the charge for Midland. Tarango had seven points, Young scored four points, and Lange put up three in the loss for the Lady Bulldogs.
Eastwood moves on to face the Bell Blue Raiders (30-4, 11-3) in the Area round.