Mid-Buchanan claims district title with win over Lathrop

Classes 1-3 continued district tournament play this week, and in Class 3 District 15, the girls' bracket came down to a showdown between the top two seeds. Six teams entered the tournament in Lathrop, but by Saturday afternoon, only two remained.

No.1-seeded Mid-Buchanan and No. 2-seeded Lathrop battled for a spot in sectionals, and despite a fourth-quarter push from the Mules, the Dragons pulled away for a convincing 48-33 victory, securing their first district championship since 2019.

“I just told the girls in the locker room, I am super proud of how they fought because none of these games are easy,” Dragons head coach Carly Moss said. “When you get in the postseason, I told them records are back to 0-0. It doesn’t matter what people’s records are, everybody’s coming out to fight, and they’re going to give you their best shot.”

Lathrop landed the first punch, opening the game with a 3-pointer, but Mid-Buchanan’s Avani Kendzora quickly responded with one of her own. The Dragons wasted no time ramping up their defensive pressure, forcing a turnover in their full-court press that led to a quick bucket and a 5-3 lead before the first minute had passed.

That defensive intensity, paired with hot shooting from beyond the arc, became the difference-maker throughout the contest. Mid-Buchanan, a roster of just eight players, leaned on its young core, including freshman Tatum Moss, who stepped up with key shots from long range.

“I think we all have great chemistry together,” senior London Wilson said. “We all get along.”

Lathrop managed to stay within striking distance, trailing 17-12 after one. The Mules again struck first in the second quarter, as Trinity Goodman knocked down a corner three off an inbounds pass to cut the deficit to three. But that momentum was short-lived.

The Dragons responded with a 10-0 run, stifling Lathrop’s offense and entering halftime with a 25-19 lead. Free-throw struggles and relentless defensive pressure from Mid-Buchanan made it difficult for the Mules to find a rhythm. They managed to trim the lead to seven in the second half, but that was as close as they would get.

“This team is special because they know that there is only eight of them, and they knew that they were going to have to come fight and play hard every single game,” Moss said.

With the win, Mid-Buchanan will host a sectional contest, looking to extend its postseason run.