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There’s a saying in sports that big time players make big time plays in big time games.
That couldn’t be more true for Mt. Vernon senior Lacy Stokes.
“I can’t say enough about her, and she’s an awesome point guard,” said Mt. Vernon Head Coach Grant Berendt.
Yet, in last Saturday’s quarterfinal game, the 2,000 point scorer ended the first half with just two points.
She was set on changing that in the second half.
“We adjusted our offense and I found some space and let it fly,” Lacy said.
Down 11 in the third quarter, the Lady Mountaineers rattled off a 14-2 run that included a Lacy three.
And then another, and another, and another.
Four straight triples helped Mt. Vernon take the lead.
“After the first one, she kind of smiled. After the second one, I’m trying to run a delay set to end the third and she’s like ‘coach if I’m open [can I shoot?]’ and I said ‘yes, if you’re open. Go ahead’,” Berendt said.
Her 17 second half points and strong defense helped Mt. Vernon to the final four for the first time since their state title win in 2012.
“We wrote a letter to ourselves in the 8th grade and I think mine was at least one year of high school to get to the final four and win state, and that’s what I’m doing for my senior year,” Lacy said.
It’s part of why it was so fitting to see Lacy emerge from a crowd of players with the ball in hand as time ran out.
“If there’s a scrum, she’s going to be the one to come out with it,” Berendt said. “There’s so much fight in all of our girls. She’s 5’4” on a good day, maybe and she’s just tough as nails.”
Now, Lacy and her teammates, including best friend Ellie Johnston are just two wins shy of their ultimate goal.
“They saw the 2012 team do it and they were in the stands, and they talk about it all the time like ‘coach let’s get back, let’s get back’,” Berendt said.
Now, they are back, and with Stokes leading the way, there’s no doubt Mt. Vernon can win it all.
