Mustang girls qualify for divisional tournament, fall short of District Title

The Ennis Mustangs girls basketball team lost to the Jefferson Panthers 50-57 in the championship game of the 5B District Tournament at Manhattan Christian School on Saturday,  March1. 

The meeting was the third of the season between the two teams and Ennis had won both of the previous match-ups. The experience of the previous games against Ennis prompted Jefferson head coach Clint Layng to make adjustments that limited the Mustangs offense down the stretch. The Panthers had a 24-8 scoring advantage in the 4th quarter and overtime. 

Junior guard Marisa Snider led the Mustangs with 19 points but did not make a shot from the field in the fourth quarter or overtime. She went eight for 11 from the foul line and dropped a three point basket in the second quarter. Mikendra Ledgerwood added 11 points Tanaya Hauser added six points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. 

The Panthers declared their intentions against Snider from the opening tip, starting the game with a half court double team that stifled Snider and saw Hauser take over some of the point guard duties in response. 

Mikendra and Mikayla Ledgerwood proved a potent offensive combination in the first half running a drive and feed game that resulted in the bulk of the Mustangs early offense. 

Ennis employed their familiar full court press defense midway through the first quarter, causing Jefferson’s offense to stall and helping the Mustangs build a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Jefferson worked to figure out a side to side passing scheme that limited the effectiveness of the Ennis pressure and created opportunities in the paint. Both teams eventually dropped into half court defenses and the Mustangs took a 26-22 lead into the intermission. 

Jefferson clawed their way to a 28-27 lead in the third quarter after a three point basket from senior Cameron Toney. Snider answered with a pull up jumper and a dish to Mikendra Ledgerwood to build the Ennis lead to five. 

Ennis continued to build with junior Brooke Hoyer working hard on the offensive boards and the Ledgerwood sisters connecting for another easy bucket under the hoop. The Mustangs took a nine point lead into the fourth quarter. 

The Panthers’ offense began to heat up in the fourth. Toney dropped an early three as did freshman Parker Layng. Jefferson took the lead with 2:38 left in the game. 

Snider took the ball to the lane twice drawing fouls and converting two of four foul shots giving the Mustangs a 48-47 lead. 

Hauser was forced to use her fifth foul to stop Toney on a fast break resulting from a Mustang turnover. Toney stepped up to the line and dropped both shots to give Jefferson a 48-47 lead with under two minutes to play. 

Coming out of a Mustangs’ timeout Snider missed twice from behind the arch before Ennis put together a strong defensive possession and got the ball back with 14 seconds left. Hoyer drew a foul that put the Mustangs into the bonus and allowed her to drop one of two to tie the game at 48 and force overtime. 

In overtime Ennis left no mystery to where the ball was going. Snider stepped up to take control of the game for her team. The Panthers responded by committing extra defenders to Snider and challenging every shot. 

Jefferson went seven of 10 from the foul line while the Mustangs went two of four and the Panthers claimed the title. 

Ennis moves on to the Southern B Girls Basketball tournament and will open with a 10 a.m. game against Huntley Project on March 6.