Baldwin girls’ basketball captured the Region 2-AAAA championship on Feb. 16 with a 63-38 dismantling of rival Griffin.
In a game in which she surpassed the 1,000-point mark of her career, Kassidy Neal led her team to victory, scoring 22 points while also grabbing 21 rebounds.
Neal, a 5-foot-10 forward, is the third Bravette to join the 1,000-point club this season, following fellow junior Janaye Walker, who scored her 1,000th a few weeks ago, while senior Madison Ruff reached the mark earlier this season.
Bravettes’ head coach Kizzy Walker said she was “elated” to see Neal reap the benefits of all her hard work.
“Three girls in one year (reaching) 1,000 points speaks volumes to how well they play together and their skill level,” Walker said. “I’m so happy for them, especially now for Kassidy (Neal). I am really elated for her.”
Baldwin struggled from the field to start the game. The Bravettes missed their first 10 shots but managed to turn things around quickly and ended up with a 12-7 lead after the first quarter.
Walker’s squad eventually built up a double-digit lead, powered by baskets from Janaye Walker, Neal, and Ruff. Senior guard Zy’Keria Paschal also got into the mix. Baldwin led the Lady Bears 31-13 at the half.
The third and fourth quarters weren’t much different from the second. Neal scored her 1,000th point late in the third quarter on an assist from Walker. At that point, the Bravettes were in complete control and entered the final quarter of regulation on a 15-2 run against Griffin.
Walker explained her team’s shaky start could’ve been caused by early-game jitters.
“Whenever we play Griffin, it’s something emotional. We came out with a lot of emotion and so did Griffin,” Walker said. “So, I told them when the emotion dies down, talent will take over. We had to allow our talent to take over and let the emotions settle down so we could play ball. That was my message to them. Afterward, our girls are locked in, and they can thrive in our offense. We didn’t look back after that point.”
Griffin defeated Baldwin three times last season in four meetings, including wins in the region championship and state championship. So, it was important for Walker and her team to knock off the Lady Bears for a third time this year.
“We should’ve had a back-to-back (region championships) last year,” Walker said. “Griffin took it from us because we weren’t playing together. This year, we got to play Griffin and were able to do what we needed to do to win.”
Baldwin enters the Class AAAA state playoffs as the No. 1-ranked overall team and top-seed from Region 2. Expectations are high for the Bravettes this season after losing in the semifinals and finals in the last two years.
Walker said her team her team is still keeping an eye on the prize: a state championship.
“They’re not complacent at all. They’re working hard in practice and are focused on winning that state championship,” she said. “We set that goal for the year and we’re trying to reach it.”