Mid-Buchanan Dragons break quarterfinal curse, set sights on semifinals and beyond

By Calvin Silvers

In sports, there are well-known instances where teams have been stripped of the opportunity to claim a championship, despite consistent postseason appearances. Take the Buffalo Bills, for example. They made a record four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1991 to 1994, yet they remain one of only two teams to reach the big game four times without tallying a victory.

At the high school level, the Mid-Buchanan Dragons have faced similar heartbreak, bowing out in the state quarterfinals for the past three seasons, but this year, they have a shot at the state championship, marking a significant turning point for the program.

The team broke the curse defeating Carrollton 3-0 to secure a spot in the Final Four, now poised to face the Chaffee Lady Devils in a highly anticipated semifinal matchup.

“We just had three more outs and it was like, we’ve done it for so long and we were so close last year that this year just felt like kind of like a movie,” senior Kaleigh Strong said.

It was a magical moment for the three seniors on the Dragons, who have waited four long years to see their dreams of competing in a Final Four become a reality. For Morgan Marshall, one of those seniors, the role of leader has become second nature.

She has taken it upon herself to rally her teammates and prepare them for the ultimate destination: a shot at the state championship.

“We pray, and then I get into the circle and I give each one of us a high five and I tell them what we’re going to do this game, how we’re going to do it and to do the little things right,” Marshall said.

While it may come as a surprise to see a team with just three seniors reach this stage, Mid-Buchanan has also been guided by a first-year head coach, Regan Nash-Archdekin.

Despite the newness, the players have quickly rallied behind their leader, building strong relationships and contributing to a unity that has been crucial in their remarkable run to the semifinals.

“The beginning of the year was kind of stressful, just making sure my first time being a head coach, making sure I did everything that I needed to do and the girls have just made it so easy,” Nash-Archdekin said.

Now over that hump, does the team still feel the post-season pressure?

I think for us that we thought we had pressure, but like, we’re good with the pressure,” junior Lindy Eaton said. “And us as a team, that we just stay focused, not think we have pressure.”

That’s easier said than done, and ultimately it will come down to making the least amount of errors on this stage. Luckily for Mid-Buchanan, their teachings throughout the season should prepare them for the brightest of lights.

“I’ve been stressing this year about doing the little things right every single game, every single practice, starting with playing catch, stretching to pitchers hitting spots, having quality at-bats, hitting the pitches that we need to hit,” Nash-Archdekin said.

As the team heads to Springfield for Friday’s content, the message is clear.

“We just want to win, since we got over that hump before the finals, I think that it’s very doable, very possible,” Strong said.