Published: November 05, 2007 06:05 pm      

Lady Cards superstitious heading into Bellville battle

BRIDGE CITY — The Bridge City Lady Cardinals have started to take after Coach Becca Mathews these days.

Senior Audrey Myers has to eat oatmeal each and every game day.

The last time she didn’t, the Lady Cardinals (24-13) lost in three games to the Silsbee Lady Tigers.

Now she eats her oatmeal along with a few other players who are sticking to habits.

They will bring their superstitions into tonight’s Class 3A Region III Regional Quarterfinals against the Bellville Lady Brahmas at Klein Forrest High School.

Along with the oatmeal, junior Mallory Guidry now wears two ponytails and Mathews has stopped wearing a silver bracelet plus eat sunflower seeds on the bus.

“Kayla (Fullerton) said it is all my fault the team is superstitious,” Mathews said. “With superstitions, whatever gets you to believe you will win before you play — I’ll take it.”

Guidry plans on wearing the same outfit to school today she wore last Thursday when the Lady Cardinals defeated the La Grange Lady Leopards.

She did point it has been washed since then.

“We get it from our coach,” Guidry said. “Now everybody on the team is doing something the same.”

Whether the superstitions will work or not is still up in the air.

What Mathews and Guidry both know is the Lady Cardinals are more focused than ever since hitting the third round of the playoffs.

“Since La Grange, I have seen the girls are wanting to put in as many reps in a drill as they can,” Mathews said. “It is so funny because usually at the end of a season players seem to drift towards the next sport. These girls are more into volleyball than ever. I haven’t heard a single word about basketball just yet.”

Guidry agreed with her coach that Bridge City is worker harder since the regular season ended.

“It feels great to be having success because I am with a group I have been playing with for a very long time,” Guidry added. “I am happy for this team because we deserve it for all the hard work we have put in. We have worked extremely hard even with practices on Saturday.”

When Mathews was sizing up Bellville (25-16), she noticed a stark similarity between the Lady Cardinals and Lady Brahmas.

“I hate to say it but they are a lot like us,” Mathews said. “They have a great outside hitter and play tough defense.”

Bellville has had recent success with a trip to the state tournament in 2005. Outside hitter Precious Sanders was on that squad.

“They have always done well,” Mathews added. “I don’t care about 2005. Just last year we were out in the first round and last year we were third in our district. We are certainly going to have to play well but Bellville is beatable.”

Guidry said the Lady Cardinals are sporting confidence right now but know they are not head and shoulders above every team they face.

“I believe we have a great chance to win this one,” Guidry added. “Our defense is going to help us along the way and of course we have Audrey. I love our defense. It is great to dig out a hard shot from another teams defense.”

Guidry is often in the back court to assist in defense along with senior Jenna Angelle who leads the team in digs.

“Every person on this team knows their role,” Mathews said. “I brought them in my office once and told them what their job was. They simply don’t care about what the other girls’ stats are and who is getting the glory. They just want to win.”

A win tonight would send the Lady Cardinals into this weekend’s regional tournament.