Lady Warriors Riding Mid-Season High

The Steinbrenner Lady Warriors basketball team cleared another road block Wednesday night as it slipped past a previously undefeated Sickles squad 49-44.

It was yet another test for the budding team on its quest to improve on its early exit from the playoffs last season. Third-year head coach JR Allen is a little afraid with the 13-1 record the team has players might become overconfident.

"There's nothing wrong with being on Cloud 6 or 7," Allen said. "We don't need to be on Cloud 9."

Allen is taking nothing for granted in the 2012-13 season. The Lady Warriors amassed a 22-3 record last season, but were bounced from the regional playoffs in the first round; a scenario Allen and the Lady Warriors hope to reverse this season.

"We knew we should have won that game (regional quarterfinal loss to St. Pete)," senior captain Lauren Shedd said. "It's definitely motivated us for this year, we want to go further than any other team in school history."

The fledgling program's highwater mark is the regional quarterfinals. It would take just one regional playoff win to set that mark, but this season holds some new challenges. District rival Freedom, who the Lady Warriors beat three times last season, seems the team to beat in Class 7A District 9.

The Patriots beat Steinbrenner 44-37 back on Dec. 13 to preserve their undefeated record and maintain the top seed in the district. Allen feels confident his girls can get past Freedom when the chips are down.

"We made some bad basketball decisions and never really got going on offense," Allen said. "If we play the game we are capable of playing, we should be able to get past them (Freedom)."

The scenario magnifies a Jan. 18 rematch with Freedom at Steinbrenner. The game will likely determine the top seed in the district.

Still, the Lady Warriors got past a stiff and physical Sickles team Wednesday night. Junior guard Olivia Unger led the team in scoring with 10 points. Senior captain Bailey Hooker led the team with four blocked shots and senior point guard Justice Thigpen led the team with seven steals and seven assists. The Gryphons cut the lead to 41-40 at the end of the third quarter and were within three points as time was running out but sound shooting from the free throw line, preserved the win for Steinbrenner.

The Lady Warriors clash with district foe Wiregrass Ranch on Thursday, then head the the Academy of the Holy Names for the Jaguar Invitational to end the calendar year.