MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) - Four Big Bend girls basketball teams punched their tickets to Lakeland and the State Final Four last week. On Tuesday, the FAMU DRS Baby Lady Rattlers hit the floor in the Class 3A State Semifinals, and the goal? To win and inch closer to another State Championship.
A win Tuesday over Somerset Prep seals up a spot in Thursday's State Finals, where the ladies look to win their third straight State Championship. Head coach Ericka Cromartie said the girls are cool, calm, and collected- they've been to Lakeland a time or two.
"Like I told them at the end of practice one day, you all can make history," she said, as a win will make the Baby Lady Rattlers the first Big Bend girls basketball team to win three straight State titles. "You'll be the first team to get three in a row. They're excited, and I'm excited for them. Like I said, it's all about them, trying to get them to the next level and just putting the school on the map and Tallahassee on the map."
The Lafayette Hornets get the week started Tuesday, as they face South Walton at noon in the Class 1A State Semifinals. The trip to Lakeland is their first since 2011, and the girls are looking to bring home the school's first girls basketball State Championship in school history.
"We're ready to get down there and see what we can do," said head coach Jimmy Blakenship. "We have a big challenge ahead of us against South Walton. We're just happy to be given the chance to go down there. We missed out on this the last five years, so we're just proud that we can represent our community here and go down and play basketball."
Aucilla Christian plays in the 2A Semifinals at 2:00. FAMU DRS closes out Tuesday at 6:00. Florida High plays on Wednesday in the Class 5A State Semifinals.
