‘Unbelievable’: Mustangs in first regional semifinals

The Memorial girls basketball team experienced a first-half stretch during which nothing seemed to fall, yet it still led at halftime of its Region III-6A quarterfinal Tuesday at Don Coleman Coliseum.

Once the shots started sinking, the Mustangs regained the lead for good and pushed into uncharted territory. A 62-55 triumph over Tompkins sent Memorial to the regional semifinals for the first time.

“It feels unbelievable,” Memorial junior Nicki Polocheck said. “It’s definitely something we’ve been working for the whole season. We played some really tough competition at the beginning of the year, so that definitely prepared us for playoffs like this. It’s just crazy because this is the first time in program history we’ve made it this far.”

The Mustangs (28-10) will face defending Region III-6A champion Summer Creek at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Campbell Center. Eliminated in the area round last year, they are savoring an unprecedented postseason run.

“In 2003 we got to this point, fell a little short,” Memorial coach Jyusef Larry said. “But to get here tonight, the kids really wanted to get over that hump and get to the next phase. To do that for each other and for the community is just awesome.”

Polocheck led Memorial to a 22-21 halftime lead with 15 of her 23 points. A pair of putbacks, a fast-break basket and a finish off a post move helped the Mustangs build a 10-2 lead early.

Riley McCloskey led Memorial to a 45-41 lead entering the third. The senior point guard scored seven straight to close the third, finishing with 21 points and seven assists.

Tompkins cut the lead to two before two more baskets by Polocheck, a 3 by Draden Moss and a drive by McCloskey produced a 53-45 lead. Memorial made nine free throws down the stretch to put the game way.