Lady Raccoons embrace rest after hectic stretch

If ever a team needed a respite for some R&R, it is the Frisco Lady Raccoons.

The state’s top-ranked 4A team has taken on an NBA-like schedule to start the season, playing 11 games in 14 days, including a stretch that included eight games in six days.

The daily rigors would have taken their toll on lesser squads, but Frisco stepped up to the challenge and has a 10-1 record to prove it. The reward now comes in being able to shoot the breeze rather than firing jumpers over the holiday weekend.

“It’s been fun, but it’s a very, very nice to break to have,” head coach Bob Rose said.

After beginning the season with three-straight wins over Eastern Hills, Hebron and Denton by an average of more than 20 points per game, the Lady Raccoons played six games in three days in the Allen Tournament. The sole loss came against defending 5A state champion Rockwall on Friday. Frisco whittled a game-long deficit to five points with six minutes to go, but an ensuing barrage of three-pointers by the Yellow Jackets pushed the final margin to 58-41. Rockwall’s Peyton Adamson, who buried 9-of-10 from behind the arc a game earlier, connected on 6-of-9 from downtown for a game-high 24 points. The Lady Raccoons were without the services of Texas Tech commitment Kierra Mallard and did themselves no favors by shooting 18 percent from the field.

“We were getting good looks, but we didn’t shoot the ball well at all,” said Rose, who is hoping to replay the highly intriguing matchup in a possible playoff warm-up game later this season.

Following the setback, Frisco went on to wax four 5A teams to finish the tournament in fifth with a 5-1 record. On Saturday against Coppell, the Lady Raccoons allowed just 22 points and only 5 in the first half in a 23-point victory.

There was no rest for the weary, though, as Frisco was back in action Monday and Tuesday. Three players hit double figures against 5A Lewisville in a 81-35 blistering at home to start the week. Mallard, who is averaging a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds per contest, turned in a game-high 23 points against the Farmers. Shay Cooney-Williams and Kendall Schwantz combined for 29 points in the blowout.

The Lady Raccoons followed up the pasting with a 72-53 victory over Keller Central on Tuesday. Mallard, a senior move-in, led the team in scoring for the fourth game in a row with 23 points. In addition to filling up the stat sheet, the 6-foot-3 post opens up opportunities for other players to score simply based on her presence in the paint.

“She is a big-time difference maker inside,” said Rose of Mallard, who is yanking down nearly six offensive boards per game. “She is allowing Dani [Thomas] to be a cutter and face the basket more, and is getting us good looks from the outside.”

Thomas’ numbers haven’t taken much of a dip either. The junior post is averaging 6.5 points and 5.6 blocks per game so far. Cooney-Williams is going for 14 points an outing and versatile sophomore Tiffany Moore is throwing in 11 more to accompany her eight assists per game.

Frisco’s bench players are chipping in, too. Most could start on other quality teams, but are accepting their backup roles for the greater good.

“With our bench, we can take advantage of resting some kids,” Rose said. “We have great guard and post depth.”

Frisco will look to crush Coppell for the second time in as many tries Tuesday on the road. The Lady Raccoons will then play in the Frisco Classic, which begins Thursday. With revenge on his mind, Rose chose to open up with Sherman. The Bearcats took the 2006 tourney title after a last-second shot dropped to beat Frisco. They also pulled out a double-overtime win over the Lady Raccoons during non-district last season.

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