SMITHVILLE – The Granger Lady Lions’ varsity basketball season came to an end Monday, Feb. 16, with a 55-48 loss to the Shiner Comanches at Smithville High School.
The game ultimately came down to free throws. Granger missed 24 foul shots in a sevenpoint contest.
According to head coach Kendall Cotten, the Lady Lions simply could not get the breaks they needed.
“To win playoff games, you’ve got to have the ball bounce your way, and we just couldn’t get it to go in the hoop,” Cotten said. “It just wasn’t our night.”
Despite the loss, Cotten said the season was a success. The Lady Lions captured back-toback district championships and finished 10-2 in district play.
“These girls, from where they started to where they were at the end of the season, it’s night and day,” Cotten said. “I believe they maximized their talent. I think they gave me everything they had, and they got better.”
When asked to describe the team in one word, Cotten did not hesitate.
“I’m just so proud of these girls,” he said. “If I had one word to define this basketball team, it would be grit.”
The game also marked the end of an era for the Lady Lions, who will graduate three seniors: Alex Montagnino, Abigail Crouch and Victoria Castillo.
However, the program remains in a strong position heading into next season. Granger is set to return multiple upperclassmen, led by junior Navaeh Campos, giving the Lady Lions a solid foundation moving forward.
