The Holt Lady Indians traveled to Jefferson City for the district tournament the week of February 27th. The four-team district, an unusual number for a basketball district, consisted of Holt, Jefferson City, Battle, and Troy. Jefferson City, the odds-on favorite to win the district, came into the tournament 22-3 and earned the right to play 7-16 Troy in the opening round.

The Lady Jays easily handled Troy, 52-28, in the first game on February 27th to advance to the district championship. In the second game, Holt defeated Battle in a defensive struggle, 37-35, to earn the right to play Jeff City on March 2nd for a second straight district championship.

The Lady Jays applied full-court pressure right from the opening tip, which definitely had an impact on the somewhat inexperienced Lady Indians. “The press was smothering,” said Head Coach Rick Jungermann. “We had trouble getting across half court, and when we did, it’s like we couldn’t slow ourselves down to set up an offense. We were shooting rushed shots once we got across half court.”

The Lady Jays held the Lady Indians to nine points in the first half, their second fewest points in any half this season, and Jeff City held a 20-point lead going into halftime.

And they never looked back.

The Lady Indians only mustered 12 points in the second half as the Lady Jay press continued to give the young Lady Indians fits and the Lady Jays continued to stretch their lead. Jeff City pulled away to a 52-21 win and a district championship on their home floor.

“That’s the best defense I’ve seen all season,” said Jungermann. “They can give anyone fits with how good their defense is and how big they are.” Three of the Lady Jay starting five stood 5’11” or taller, including two over 6’.

“That’s the best team I’ve seen in my two years of coaching,” Jungermann added.

The Lady Indians faced plenty of adversity this season, and this game is just another example. Junior guard/forward Michon Forrest (‘18) missed all but one game, and they lost several close games to very tough teams. “In the second half of the season, I feel that we responded very well and learned a lot about ourselves,” Jungermann said. “Once we figured out how to play without Michon, we really found ourselves and played well.”

Forrest notes that the team faced a challenge with her injury but that they responded well. “The team was very upset that I couldn’t be out there with them,” said Forrest, “by they have supported me 110% in my recovery process. They want me to get well soon and heal properly so I can get back out there for my senior season.”
It was a long and strenuous season at times for the Lady Indians, one that had it’s shares of ups and downs. They are a very young team, though, and they surely have plenty of success to look forward to next season and beyond.