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The 2006-2007 Lady Dragons basketball team finished up its season with two close but disappointing losses. The defending City Champs failed to hold off last year’s runner up and top City League rival, the Westinghouse Bulldogs, losing 58-55 March 1st in the City Championship Game at Mellon Arena. Eight days later, the Dragons were back at it in the state playoffs, but lost another heartbreaker 54-53 against Upper St. Clair. The Lady Dragons finished the season an impressive 22-6 and 15-2 in City League play. The team returned three senior starters from last year’s championship game: Hope Barfield, Shawniece Johnson, and Mattie Collins-Wood. The Lady Dragons added Junior Vanneea McFarland who transferred from Oliver, as well. The team began the season 11-0, including wins over Westinghouse and WPIAL teams Duquesne, Plum, and North Hills. However, in January, the team began to lose momentum with defeats to Seneca Valley, Ambridge and an abysmal 65-45 loss at Westinghouse. After that, the Lady Dragons found their groove again and easily made it to the City League Championship March 1st at the Mellon Arena. “The season lived up to expectations,” said Barfield, “but the championship didn’t." Head Basketball coach Janet Davis was not as flattering in her characterization of the season. “I was very disappointed in our season,” she said. “At the end of the season we imploded.” In the Championship game the Lady Dragons led by 8 going into half time and by as much as 16 at one point in the third quarter and never trailed going into the fourth quarter. However, resilient play from Westinghouse and a Lady Dragons combined 2/14 from the free-throw line resulted in the Dragons coming up just short, losing the game 58-55. “We came out strong, but when it came down to it we just couldn’t regain our strength,” said Senior Shawniece Johnson who scored 8 points in the championship game. “It’s simple,” said Barfield who scored 18 points in the championship. “We got tired and missed too many free throws.” Barfield, whose 32 points in last year's City Championship Game led to an Allderdice victory, watched the final minutes of her high school career tick away from the bench because of what Davis called, “an attitude problem.” |
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Allderdice’s school logo. |
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Lady Dragons Fail to Repeat |
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By Ben Gordon |
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The Allderdice Foreword An Award Wining Publication |