Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
As the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Flashes were crowned Rural Class Region 3 champions.
Hilliard Middle-Senior High School hosted the regional championship Feb. 18. The Lady Flashes secured a hard-fought 67-64 victory over the Fort White Indians.
With this win, the Hilliard girls varsity basketball team advances to the Final Four, facing the Holmes County Blue Devils today at 5 p.m. The game will take place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
This marks the first time in a decade since the Lady Flashes have reached the Final Four. The team made Final Four appearances in 1995, 2012, 2013, and 2015. In three of those four appearances, members of the team’s current coaching staff played.
Asst. Coach Brea Saunders competed in the state semifinals in 2012 and 2013. Asst. Coach Kearsten Holley was part of the Final Four team in 2015. Their experiences offer the team a unique advantage, as they have stood on both sides of the court – as players and now as mentors.
“I was nervous then and I’m nervous now; it’s just a different perspective,” said Saunders. “I actually think it’s a little more weight on us as coaches because we have to have them prepared for this opportunity.”
Without the return of some key veterans this season, Head Coach Daneisha Alderman knew the team would have to rely on younger athletes to step up. With only two seniors and two juniors on the roster, the team features three middle schoolers, one freshman and three sophomores.
“We really believe it’s not about what grade you’re in, it’s about if you’re good enough,” Alderman said.
Due to the age gap on the team, the coaching staff prioritized player development and team chemistry. Still, they knew they were throwing the younger players into the fire.
“They have rose to the occasion and shown so much maturity, even at their young age,” Alderman said.
At the beginning of the season, the coaches expected to reassemble the team this year. However, the team has defied expectations and made an unexpected run to the state tournament.
“Half way through the season, we were like oh my goodness – They were like a breath of fresh air,” said Alderman.
Senior Molly Dean played a crucial role in the last game, scoring 14 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and making three steals. A varsity player since her freshman year, she is experiencing the exhilaration of the state tournament for the first time.
“It’s everyone’s goal when playing basketball to go to state, so actually getting the opportunity to go is like really exciting,” she said.
Dean has relied on her faith to navigate high-pressure moments this season.
“I literally like pray about it … and it helps calms my nerves. I told (the team) during the last championship game, of the 32 minutes, I think I prayed 25 of the minutes we played,” she said.
Senior Logan was ready to work on key areas before the state semifinal game.
“We are gonna work on playing defense as a team, not just as one person,” she said Thursday.
Holley also emphasized the importance of community support in the team’s success.
“They make us feel good and stay up, especially if like a ref makes a bad call; it feels good knowing they have our back,” she said. “Just hearing the whole gym like erupt, it gives us that good feeling.”
Junior Alyssa Hallman was a standout performer in the Feb. 18 game against Fort White, scoring 26 points. She believes this season is setting the Lady Flashes up for continued success in the years to come.
“It’s gonna hold us to a high standard that we need to be put on, because we are only losing one starter, so we are just gonna keep developing,” said Hallman.
Two of the team’s starters, Justice Alderman and Reah Saunders, are just 12 years old and have been competing against older players for most of their lives. This was an adjustment for some of the team, but now they are bonded and care deeply for one another.
“At first it was like ‘what the heck?’ Now it’s like they are my little sisters. We take care of them, they understand us and listen to us,” said Hallman.
Reah and Justice both play vital roles on the team. In the last game, Reah scored 10 points and Justice scored nine. Known as the “littles” by coaches and teammates, the seventh-grade cousins give their all in every game – not just for themselves but for the entire team.
“We try our best to do anything that will help them … we just want to do anything to make them happy,” said Reah.
As intimidating as it may seem, Justice and Reah are excited for this varsity opportunity. “It’s giving us the experience that we need in order to grow and to become better basketball players than we already are now,” Justice said.
The Lady Flashes hold a season record of 18-8 while the Blue Devils are 25-2 as they prepare to face off today. As the Lady Flashes gear up for the Final Four, they carry not only their talent and determination, but also a legacy of perseverance, mentorship, and unwavering community support.