Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Wolverettes Win District

Three tournaments, three first place trophies.

Now, Prescott's Wolverettes have two more tourneys to go on their quest for a state title -- the regional tournament in Fordyce this week, followed by the state tilt, which will be held in Clarksville, with the final game in the Pine Bluff Convention Center March 15.

Friday and Saturday, the Wolverettes showed why they are the best team in the 7AA, as they posted wins over league foes De Queen and Bismarck to take their second straight District Tournament crown.

However, these wins didn't come easy for the Prescott crew. In fact, both the Lady Lions and Lady Leopards were ready for the Wolverettes and forced the Prescott team to battle for the victories and title.

Bismarck succumbed in the finals Saturday night in Nashville 41-29. The game, though, was closer than the final score indicates.

The Lady Lions opened the contest at a snail's pace, something the Wolverettes despise, as the Prescott quintet prefers an up and down game, played the entire 94 foot length of the court.

The Wolverettes also came out cold from the field. In fact, they were unable to put their first points on the board until the three minute mark in the first quarter.

Fortunately, the Lady Lions weren't shooting any better, but led 5-0 before Prescott scored on a Jessica Hildebrand 12-footer. Laura Culpepper scored the Wolverettes only other points on a similar shot later in the period.

At the end of one, the score was unbelievably low at 7-4 in Bismarck's favor.

Old "Mo", momentum, started swinging Prescott's way in the second period as the Wolverettes picked up their intensity on defense.

They took their first lead, 12-11, at the 4:30 mark in the period when Leslie Hines nailed a three.

This proved to be the beginning of the end for Bismarck, but the Lady Lions didn't know it quite yet.

At the half, the score was tied 15-15, and Bismarck was under the mistaken impression they had a chance to win.

This impression lasted until the Wolverettes came out of the locker room at the break.

Coach Cecily Butler changed the offense slightly during halftime, but there was an intangible no one counted on -- Wolverette pride.

The look in the players' eyes changed from the first half to the second. The Wolverettes were filled with confidence at the start of the third quarter, knowing the game (and district championship) was theirs for the taking -- and they took it.

The team started hitting on all cylinders offensively and took a 23-17 lead early in the third, pushing it to a 27-17 lead with 3:20 left in the quarter.

However, the officials made sure Bismarck stayed in the game by calling phantom fouls and making questionable calls.

At one point, Hildebrand was dribbling, looking for another Wolverette to pass to, when she was called for walking.

Calls such as this allowed the Lady Lions to cut the lead to 27-22.

The zebra's didn't matter in the long run as Prescott was simply the better team, and was able to overcome the officials as well as the Lady Lions.

Culpepper was called for her fourth foul with 6:28 left in the game -- a questionable call as she did nothing to the opposing player, but was called for reaching in.

While she sat on the bench, the Wolverettes rallied, going on a 6-2 run to push their lead to 35-24 with 2:33 to go in the contest.

Culpepper returned to the foray at this point, but was nailed with her fifth foul with 45.7 seconds remaining.

Jennifer Adams replaced Culpepper, doing a credible job at the forward position.

The key to the game, though, may well have been Gladies Gulley, who scored 14 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and had four steals in the game.

Gulley was a force in the paint, powering her way to the goal and through the Lady Lions.

"You could see the difference in her face," Butler said of Gulley's tourney performance. "She's stepped up and decided to be a factor. She's not looking past anyone anymore, but is playing focused, heady ball."

Hildebrand controlled the tempo for the Wolverettes against Bismarck, scoring 12 points and dishing out five assists in the final game.

In spite of a tender ankle, Hildebrand dominated her opponent on defense. Wherever her counterpart went, Hildebrand was in her face.

Offensively, Hildebrand was again the team's field general, getting the plays from the bench and running them to near perfection with the rest of the team.

Culpepper had an off night, but spent a good deal of time riding the pines because of foul problems. Still, she scored eight points and pulled down four boards.

Soph sensation Stacy Stockton must have felt like someone's prized possession the way she was guarded all night. Stockton was only able to score three points and clear the glass for four rebounds, but hustled up and down the court the full 32 minutes.

For the entire game, Stockton was guarded as closely as the gold in Fort Knox.

Butler didn't get to go deep into the bench as she has done throughout the season. However, Adams, who replaced Culpepper, came out and played solidly on defense, while adding a point to the Wolverette total.

Her play was critical down the stretch when Prescott went on its 6-2 run late.

From the charity stripe, the Wolverettes were 10 of 16, while Bismarck converted eight of 13.

The Lady Lions were led by Jessica Wooten's 13.

PRESCOTT 48

DE QUEEN 40

Revenge is ours, sayeth the Wolverettes.

In the semi-final game of the 7AA District Tournament, the Wolverettes were able to get a measure of revenge against the Lady Leopards of De Queen.

On Feb. 11, the Lady Leopards handed the Wolverettes their only conference loss, a 16-pointer, in De Queen.

This didn't set well with the Prescott crew, and the Wolverettes vowed revenge the next time the two teams met.

Prescott's senior girls wanted to play De Queen so bad, they rooted for the Lady Leopards in the first game of the tourney.

The Lady Leopards, though, had something to prove as well, and battled the Wolverettes hard during the game.

Prescott came out a bit tight and out of sync offensively in the game. Still, the Wolverettes were able to post a 15-7 lead at the end of one.

Scoring slowed down in the second period for both crews, but the Wolverettes held a 23-10 halftime advantage.

The two squads played evenly in the third period, each scoring 14 points, and De Queen won the final eight minutes 16-11, but lost the overall war.

Gulley stepped up and scored 19 points, pulled down 13 rebounds and recorded four steals in the game.

Stockton ripped the nets for 17, including a three-pointer. Hildebrand and Culpepper each scored four, with Culpepper ripping down six boards and Hildebrand dishing out four assists. Hines and Lakeshia Stuckey scored two each.

Adams came in and stole the ball three times.

The