By Lee Trawick, Riverbend News
Between Monday, Oct. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 21, 1A District 5 varsity volleyball teams laid siege on Branford High School in hopes of capturing the elusive District Championship trophy. Throughout the tournament, the Taylor County Lady Bulldogs, the Fort White Lady Indians, the Hamilton County Lady Trojans, the Lafayette Lady Hornets and the Branford Lady Buccaneers faced off to claim the title. The Lady Hornets and the Lady Buccaneers came into the tournament as the top two seeds with a first-round bye. However, the Lady Bulldogs, Lady Trojans and Lady Indians were going to have to fight their way through the gauntlet of the tournament.
On Monday, Oct. 18, the Lady Trojans and the Lady Indians faced off in the Quarter-Finals, where the Lady Trojans came out on top after a 3-1 victory over the Lady Indians and advanced to the Semi-Finals. On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the Lady Trojans had the daunting task of upsetting the Lady Hornets' number one seed if they had any hopes of capturing the district championship. However, the Lady Hornets would have none of that, as they eliminated the Lady Trojans in three straight sets, ending the Lady Trojans' season, 3-0, in the Semi-Finals. The Lady Hornets advanced to the district championship on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Later that evening, the Lady Bucs found themselves defending their home court against the Lady Bulldogs in the Semi-Finals round. The Lady Bucs made easy work of the Lady Bulldogs in three straight sets, ending the Lady Bulldogs season, 3-0. The Lady Bucs advanced to the district championship against the number one seed Lady Hornets on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m.
The highly anticipated match-up between the Lady Buccaneers and Lady Hornets was full of backstories, as the two teams are very familiar with one another. In addition, the two teams had split the series, with both teams protecting their home court. The juggernaut of stars filled each team's line-up card: Jaydyn Mosley, Emily Lyons, Evie Pitts, Haley Rosenbaum, Alaina Tyre, Kennedy Walker, Halleigh-Ray Harris, Tana Byrd, Jesse Sykes, Brooklyn Fleming, Hannah Terry, Katie Mathis, Madison Sykes, Mallory McCray, Andi Sabourin and Hudson Powell, along with a host of rising stars, all well prepared for the big stage. Head coaches Marcy Richardson for the Lady Hornets and Mendy Sykes for the Lady Buccaneers knew their teams would be in a fight.
The championship atmosphere built up as the gymnasium slowly filled with fans from both sides, coating the stands with red, white, orange and blue. The players could even feel the environment shift around them. No matter what had taken place leading up to that moment, injuries, bad games—none of it mattered. Both teams were highly talented and mentally tough, meaning the championship would be won on heart and grit.
The heavyweight fight began with the Lady Hornets jumping out to a 3-0 lead off the serve of Katie Mathis. But, the Lady Bucs fought back, tying the game, 4-4. From that point forward in the first set, neither team refused to back down. Mosley and Tyre were firing kills from all angles; Walker and Mathis fired right back. Finally, Harris and Pitts gave the Buccaneers the edge, using pure determination to will their team to a 25-19 victory in the first set.
As the second set began again, the Lady Hornets jumped out early. However, Lady Buc Madison stood tall, bringing her team back into the fight once again and tying the game up at 6-6. Lady Hornet Lyons was beginning to roar, but Lady Buc Mosley stood toe-to-toe with her. Fans were in awe of the two superstars facing off against one another in stellar performances. Mosley's battle-mate, Tyre, was locked in a battle of her own with Lady Hornet Walker. All the while, both Buccaneers were fighting at the net against Fleming and Rosenbaum. Mathis, McCray and Byrd refused to give up any points as Pitts, Harris, Sabourin and Makayla Williams played the same. However, in the second set, it was the Lady Hornets outlasting the Lady Buccaneers, 27-25.
As the third set began, Mosley continued where she left off from the previous two sets. "Mosley was on tonight and I think that was a big factor for us tonight," said Lady Buccaneers Coach Mendy. Harris was also gaining ground on the backline, responding to every attack the Lady Hornets fired at her. The Lady Hornets found themselves playing defense throughout the third set, struggling to be the aggressor. Sabourin and Harris covered the entire court for the Lady Buccaneers, allowing Jesse to pick apart the Lady Hornets. Meanwhile, Tyre and Mosley were waiting on either side, ready for the kill. The Lady Buccaneers were able to take the third set, 25-19.
In the fourth set, with the Lady Hornets' backs against the wall and on the brink of elimination, Byrd and McCray took to the stage to cause an uprising that would fire up the Lady Hornets. Walker, Lyons, Mathis, Rosenbaum and Fleming fed-off one another on their way to a third set victory by 25-23, tying the match at 2-2 going into the night's final set.
Mosley and Lyons stalked the net before the match, thriving on the energy surrounding both teams from the stand, as each side tried to will their teams to the championship. Mathis and Pitts walked around like sharks in the water smelling blood. Harris and Byrd both sized each other up with no intentions of backing down. Tyre and Walker took to the court as silent assassins. Both Sykes locked in as Fleming and Rosenbaum made their way to the center of the net. Back-and-forth both teams fought, going kill-for-kill and blow-for-blow, with neither side giving an inch. Mosley continued her assault at the net and Harris became a defender possessed.
"Tonight, we knew we couldn't let each other down. That's a great team over there, so we knew we were going to have to fight, but we are built for that," Harris said. "Even when things were going our way, we didn't quit. We fought and these ladies deserve this." Harris made unbelievable plays from the backline to keep the Lady Buccaneers alive, but the Lady Hornets answered with great plays of their own. Mathis and McCray came alive, bringing their team back into the set. Lyons, who had sustained an ankle injury earlier in the season, continued playing through her injury with tears in her eyes, refusing to give way to the Lady Buccaneers' assault. Fleming and Rosenbaum did all they could defending the net, but as the Lady Buccaneers began to pull away, Pitts, Harris, Jesse, Tyre and Mosley began to close out the Hornets. Jesse set-up the final blow for Mosley, who flew to the net for the final kill of the night. The Lady Buccaneers erupted as the 1A District 5 Champions.
"Tonight was tough. Our girls fought hard, stayed with the game plan and didn't give up through the frustrating moments,” said Lady Buccaneers coach Mendy. “That's a good team we just played and our girls played together to win it here tonight."
The Lady Buccaneers will be at home on Tuesday, Nov. 2, as they set their sights on the regional Semi-Finals and defend their home court once more against the 1A District 6 runner-up. Branford High School is located at 405 Reynolds St. N.E., in Branford. At the same time, the Lady Hornets will travel to Dixie County to take on the Dixie County Lady Bears at Dixie County High School, located at 16077 S.E. Hwy 19, in Cross City.
The Branford Lady Buccaneers have been crowned the 2021 Class 1 District 5 Champions. Pictured in the back, from left to right, are: Assistant Coach Cera Mclearth, Assistant Coach Rachel Derringer, Jaydyn Mosley, Madyson Sykes, Jesse Sykes, Alaina Tyre, Madison Ward, Hannah Terry and Head Coach Mendy Sykes. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are: Halleigh-Ray Harris, Andi Sabourin, Evie Pitts, Erika Rioux, Zamaria Granado and Makayla Williams.