TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Over the next week, three Big Bend girls basketball teams will contend for a State Championship in their respective classifications. None is more decorated of a program than the FAMU DRS Baby Lady Rattlers, who are making their sixth straight trip to the State Final Four.
The girls have won three State titles in five seasons, and this year, look for their second straight as they try to defend their Class 2A crown. The Baby Lady Rattlers punched their ticket to this year's Final Four with a dominating 83-12 win over Hernando Christian on Saturday night.
The ladies hit the road to Lakeland Monday morning, where they'll take on Covenant Christian in Tuesday's Class 2A State Semifinals, with the winner advancing to Wednesday's title game, and the team is ready to fight for another ring.
"We've been talking about this since August," said head coach Ericka Cromartie. "For it to finally be here, it's just great. We're just walking in to it, we're ready. The girls are excited and pumped so it's already done."
"We can't take this moment for granted," said senior, and Louisville signee, Jazmine Jones, who's been a part of the five previous trips. "There's a lot of teams who have lost who could be at State right now, so we have to be blessed and be humble that we are in this position for another team. It's the sixth year in a row that we get to go to State so we have to stay humble."
The FAMU DRS ladies tip-off at 2:00 on Tuesday, but it's the Madison County Cowgirls who get the 2016 tournament underway, as they take on Port St. Joe at 10:00 in the Class 1A State Semifinals. The winner advances to Wednesday's 1A title game.
In Class 4A, East Gadsden takes the floor on Wednesday for Semifinal action at 1:00. The Class 4A State Championship game is on Thursday.
