The Forestburg Lady Horns lost to the defending state-champs Newcastle in the bi-district round of the playoffs on Monday.
The Lady Cats won 56-30 against the Lady Horns to end their season as Forestburg got a bad draw in its playoff bracketing.
Forestburg ended its regular season with 61-35 loss against district champs Saint Jo on Feb. 4. The loss put the Lady Horns into a third place finish within the district.
Unfortunately, because Forestburg is the second biggest school within the four playoff teams in the district, it meant it was the second seed in the division I bracket, playing the biggest schools in the state in 1A.
That meant a first round matchup against a Newcastle team that won the whole 1A state title last year and had the reigning player of the year in 1A still on the team, Mattie Dollar.
Most of the damage was done in the first half as the Lady Cats were up 40-9 at halftime. Thankfully, Newcastle has a heart and let up in the second half.
The Lady Horns actually outscored Newcastle 23-16 in the third and fourth quarters to make the final score not as bad as it could have been, 56-30.
Brenna Briles led the team with 17 points. Braylee Briles, Isabell Lawson and Jocelyn Rich were second with four points each.
Coach Cori Hayes chalked it up to his young team learning what a defending state champion looks like and hopes his team can grow the from the experience since the team is only graduating one player.
“Proud of the season we had and good luck to all of our locals still playing,” Hayes said.