Lady Bulldogs upset in first round of state playoffs

The 11th seeded Douglas Lady Bulldogs were upset by the 22nd seeded Prescott Lady Badgers 64-57 last Wednesday night in the first round of the Division II state playoffs.

The loss was the second straight for Douglas who earlier fell to Queen Creek in the first round of the Sectional tournament.

In the state playoff game which was played before a large crowd in the DHS gym, Douglas jumped out to an early 9-2 lead but then found itself down 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

The Lady Bulldogs went up by three in the second quarter only to see Prescott come back and go up by two.

Just before the half Danae Meza hit a pair that gave Douglas a 34-26 lead at the half.

Nythzia Machado’s pair in the second half gave the Lady Bulldogs a 36-26 lead.

Twice in the third Douglas led by 10 and both times Prescott cut into that lead pulling within four, 47-43, as the third quarter ended.

In the fourth quarter Prescott took the lead which forced Douglas to foul. The Lady Badgers connected on 13 of 17 attempts from the free throw line the fourth quarter and were 20 of 29 for the game.

Douglas was 6 of 13 for the game and had 20 turnovers.

Machado led Douglas with a game high 24 points. Aleen Nunez followed with 18.

After the loss Douglas’ Coach Clint Hill was somewhat at a loss for words.

“Wow”, he said. “The girls played their hearts out. That was a tough team.”

The coach said the fact his team could not get to the free throw line and when it did they did not make their free throws hurt.

Douglas ends the year 22-5.

Hill said he will start having an open gym in two weeks trying to develop girls since there is no feeder program.

The Lady Bulldogs are losing 10 seniors this year making next year a definite rebuilding year.

“They’re going to be tough to replace,” he said.

Prescott would go on to lose to Flowing Wells 62-50 two nights later in Tucson.