As the second half of the season begins, the Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs basketball team is preparing to compete in the annual Lady Eagle Winter Classic tournament.
Last season, the Lady Bulldogs finished in second place after falling to Vienna in the championship game. This year, Harrisburg returns as one of the tournament’s top contenders.
Harrisburg enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed, behind top-seeded Carmi. Other teams competing include Eldorado, Vienna, Hamilton County, Edwards County, Gallatin County and Goreville.
The Lady Bulldogs will open tournament play against the No. 7 seed, the Gallatin County Hawks. The two teams already met earlier this season in the opening game, where Harrisburg earned a 55-10 victory.
Senior Quincy Nicholes said the team is motivated to improve on last year’s finish.
“After losing to Vienna in the championship last year, we’re eager to show everyone that we’re more than capable of winning,” Nicholes said. “All of us have put in a lot of hard work and time. I’m confident in our ability to win it all this year.”
Harrisburg has built its success on strong team chemistry, aggressive defense and the ability to score in transition. The team hopes its defensive intensity will carry over into tournament play.
Head coach Jake Stewart said the competition will be strong.
“I feel like we have as good of a chance to win it as anyone,” Stewart said. “There are a lot of good teams in it this year. We are going to have to play really well if we want to be the last team standing.”
The Lady Bulldogs will face Gallatin County in the opening round and will then play either Goreville or Edwards County in the next game.
As the Lady Eagle Winter Classic tips off Saturday, Harrisburg hopes to turn last year’s runner-up finish into a championship this season.
