Girls’ basketball narrowly misses section playoffs
Senior Haleigh Vinyard and Senior Kennedy Sheckla await for the free throw to be shot.
February 26, 2014
Tracy High’s girls’ basketball team had one last shot at making the playoffs.
The Bulldogs fell short, losing to Lodi, 28-24, in a Sac-Joaquin Section play-in game on at Lodi Feb. 18.
Tracy and Lodi tied for third during the regular San Joaquin Athletic Association (SJAA) season with 5-5 records. Tracy split the SJAA series with Lodi, losing, 48-45, on Jan. 16, and beating the Flames, 53-39, on Feb. 4.
“I am very proud of my girls,” Coach Derek Solano said. “All my players improved together as a team.”
The loss was especially heartbreaking for Tracy’s seniors, Kimberly Paschal, Sarah Rodriguez, Kennedy Sheckla (who shared captain duties) and Haleigh Vinyard. Tracy’s overall record was 12-16.
Sheckla hopes to play for an intramural team or club in college. She said she will miss her teammates and the “amazing” memories she made with them.
“I am going to miss the pure joy that basketball brought to me,” Sheckla said.
Paschal also said she will to miss playing with her high school teammates and all the friendships she made. She does not plan to play anymore, but will always have the memory of scoring 18 points against Vallejo at the Napa Valley tournament. Tracy beat Vallejo, 38-35, on Dec. 21.
“My whole last season was very enjoyable,” Paschal said. “We did well even if our record doesn’t say so.”
Paschal believes if the team could have executed better on layups, free throws, and easy pointers, they could have moved into the playoff bracket. Solano agreed that the Bulldogs underachieved in the final game, saying that they “did not play up to their ability.” He did feel they improved throughout the season.
He cited Tracy’s overtime victory over Chavez, 36-34, on Jan. 23, as the season highlight. Tracy was behind most of the game and fought back. Rodriguez made the game-winning basket and was one of two players on the team with seven points, the game high.
Solano thinks Tracy could contend for the SJAA title in the next couple years, maybe even next year.
He has a lot of competitive younger girls returning and hopes that playing in summer leagues will help prepare them for next season.
Solano said some of his players earned SJAA all-league awards, but those will not be announced until after the playoffs are completed.
