The last time Bishop Gorman stepped on the court, the No. 1 team in TAPPS 4A trailed 14-2 minutes into the game before fighting back for a 12-point win in the TAPPS 2-4A district championship game.
The Lady Crusaders are hoping to use that as a wake-up call as they begin their drive for a state title Saturday.
"I think it's a good reality check coming in here and getting scared in the first quarter," said Gorman senior Michelle Obach, East Texas' top scorer at 23.2 points per game. "I think it'll keep us from underestimating anyone that we may see down the road."
The top seed out of TAPPS 2-4A for the fifth straight year, Gorman hosts Grapevine Faith Christian Saturday in the TAPPS 4A area playoffs at 2 p.m. from Haddad Gym.
The Lady Lions (17-17) held off Grace Community 51-43 on Thursday while the Lady Crusaders (29-3) have been idle since their 68-56 win over Dallas Christian last Saturday.
Prior to Gorman's comeback win, coach Katie Robertson's side took down Fairfield — the No. 2 team in Class 3A — 51-47, adding the Lady Eagles to the list of strong UIL teams the Lady Crusaders have taken down, including John Tyler (65-48), Alba-Golden (58-30), Martins Mill (54-48), Robert E. Lee (63-43) and Lindale (66-46). Gorman's losses have come against Martins Mill and Liberty-Eylau (twice).
Robertson said the Lady Crusaders are ready to start the postseason, with four games separating them from a coveted state championship. The winner of Saturday's game plays either Lubbock Trinity Christian or Carrollton Prince of Peace on Tuesday. The final four begins March 1 in Mansfield.
"The other thing that I've been worried about with us being ranked No. 1 in the state — and I think it is important that we have the dialogue of us winning a state championship — but I don't want us to get too far ahead of ourselves," Robertson said. "I think (Saturday) was a great lesson of making sure we take care of Saturday so we can get there tomorrow."
BROOK HILL HOSTS AREA PLAYOFF
The TAPPS 4-3A champion Bullard Brook Hill Guard return to their home court tonight to play Irving The Highlands at 5 p.m. from Herrington Gymnasium.
The Guard (18-11) are coming off a 74-55 win over Carrollton Christian on Tuesday in the bi-district round, with sophomore point guard Grant Hanks supplying 28 points.
"We're young; we've got good little players," said Brook Hill coach Wally Dawkins, who starts a freshman and four sophomores. "Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy but we tend to play up to our competition. (Tuesday) we stayed with it, played hard and pulled away in the second half, which we kind of thought would happen."
The Blazers (20-8) finished second in TAPPS 3-3A and edged Richardson Canyon Creek 64-61 on Tuesday.
The winner of Saturday's game faces either Fort Worth Bethesda or Lubbock Christian in the regional playoffs on Tuesday.
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TAPPS Basketball Playoffs
TAPPS 4A Girls
Bi-District
Grapevine Faith Christian 51, Grace Community 43
Area
Grapevine Faith Christian at Bishop Gorman, 2 p.m. Saturday, Haddad Gym
TAPPS 4A Boys
Bi-District
Grapevine Faith Christian 66, All Saints 53
Grace Community 80, El Paso Lydia 62
Area
Grace vs. Lubbock Trinity Christian, Saturday
TAPPS 3A Girls
Bi-District
Bullard Brook Hill 54, Colleyville Covenant Christian 26
Area
McKinney Christian 56, Brook Hill 33
TAPPS 3A Boys
Bi-District
Bullard Brook Hill 74, Carrollton Christian 55
Area
Irving The Highlands at Brook Hill, 5 p.m. Saturday