First State Champion Wall Lady Hawks Team Celebrated Before District Matchup

WALL— The Wall community came out and celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Lady Hawks first ever state championship when the currently Lady Hawks took on the TLCA San Angelo Lady Eagles.

Before the district matchup between the Lady Hawks and the TLCA San Angelo Lady Eagles, the Wall community showed up at the gym to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Lady Hawks first state title from the 2013-2014 season. That year, Wall went 35-4 under then head coach Tate Lombard. The playoffs that season went as follows:

• Bi-District: Reagan County – 79-72
• Area: Wichita Falls City View – 72-36
• Regional Quarterfinals: Breckenridge – 50-38
• Regional Semifinals: Canadian – 43-27
• Regional Finals: Tuscola Jim Ned – 47-27
• State Semifinals: Halletsville – 59-44
• State Finals: Brock – 48-44

Not only were the Lady Hawks state champions that season, but they were also built for success as they only had one senior on the team. The 2013-2014 Wall Lady Hawks were:

• 10 – Kelsey Walling – Jr.
• 12 – Saegan Jost – Fr.
• 14 – Allie Dierschke – Jr.
• 20 – Shelby Roach – Jr.
• 22 – Sadie Brest – Jr.
• 24 – Bobbi Chitsey – Jr.
• 30 – Hannah Carr – Soph.
• 32 – Alexus Garcia – Sr.
• 34 – Macy Gully – Soph.
• 40 – Karley Pettiet – Soph.
• 42 – Maddi Chitsey – Soph.
• 44 – Stella Doyle – Soph.
• 52 – Miya El-Masri – Fr.
• 54 – Emmy Phillips – Fr.

Of course, they were coached by Lombard, who had help from assistants Michael Huxen and Chris Schlicke. The team managers were Rachel Key, Sloane Bratcher, and Whitney Barnett.

From Coach Lombard on what being a state champion meant to him, Lombard said, “One of my favorite teams I ever coached! The 2014 Wall Lady Hawks basketball team was a special group. After returning the majority of our team from the year before, I knew we had a chance to have a great team. We really hit our stride towards the end of district and played our best basketball during the playoffs. I remember great invidivual and team performances on our way to a regional championship. In the Region 1 final, we beat Jim Ned [the Lady Hawks played the Lady Indians four times that season] by 20 points.”

“Getting to state and being able to play in The Drum was a memory I will never forget. After beating Halletsville in the state semifinals, we matched up with the five-time defending state champions Brock,” Lombard continues, “We got off to a great start and held on for a close victory to claim the 2A State Championship. I owe so much to this team. They fulfilled a dream I had ever since I first arrived in Wall. Winning a state championship take a lot of things. Hardwork, being a great teammate, and sacrificing yourself for the betterment of the group. This state title meat so much to the Wall community and the people that supported us throughout the journey. I just want to say thank you to the Wall administration – Walter Holik, Russell Dacy, Ryan Snowden, and Jeremy Williams for trusting me with this program during my time at Wall. To our players, you were a joy to coach. Thank you for all the memories and hopefully this state championship means as much to you as it does to me.”

After the celebration, the current Lady Hawks got to work against the TLCA San Angelo Lady Eagles. Wall had to impress that championship team that was sitting in the stands, and they played like it against the Lady Eagles, beating them 78-4, scoring double digit points in every quarter and holding the Lady Eagles scoreless in two.

SCORING

WHS: Harper- 14, Morrison- 12, Watts- 10, Holtman- 10, Hartman- 8, Lewis- 7, Lopez- 5. Wymore- 4, Graves- 4, Gallant-4

3-Point Shots- Holtman- 2, Watts- 1

TLCA- Jackson- 2, Bonilla- 1, Green- 1