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BASTROP — A memorable season for the Bastrop Bears ended Tuesday, Feb. 18, with a 73-54 loss to Rudder in the area round of the playoffs at Rockdale High School.
The varsity girls basketball team wrapped up its campaign at 34-5, making it to the third round of the postseason for the first time in eight years.
“I am extremely proud of the girls and how we played as a group and got better together,” Head Coach La Barbara Roberson said. “They overcame adversity throughout the season and grew a lot as a team.”
Despite the magical season, it wasn’t always easy, Roberson added.
The Bears battled numerous injuries, including a torn ACL for leading scorer and freshman point guard Zo’nai Cook midseason — forcing players to assume new positions on the fly as she was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
“When our point guard went down in December, we had to literally start over and ask, ‘Who is going to be the point?’” Roberson said. “We had to figure it out, and everybody’s roles changed. Everyone had to learn different things, and we had to do it fast. We were in district play, and we had to keep winning. Everybody made the change really well. They excelled.”
Even without Cook, Bastrop lost only one regular- season game — falling to Anderson Jan. 31 — and then rolled past Weiss and Fort Bend Marshall in the first two playoff rounds.
Junior forward Keyaira Limuel and senior forward Naveah Jones led the way offensively, spearheading a program that Roberson stated embodies the Bears’ core values.
Though next season’s opening tip is still months away, Roberson is already preparing her team for a deeper playoff run.
“Next year, we are building from here,” she said. “Our goal is to go further than we did this year and get to state.”
