LAKELAND-It’s been a thrilling season for the Providence Girls Basketball team, and it can all come to a fulfilling end Friday Night in Lakeland as the Lady Stallions (27-0) play for the Class 4A State Title after defeating SLAM Academy 77-18 to advance to the title game.
The game started out with Providence scoring 19 unanswered points jumping out on SLAM in the first period. The Stallion’s leader Maria Kuhlman scored five early points for her team. She’s led the Stallions all season averaging just under 20 points per game.
Yet Kuhlman wasn’t the only one getting in on the action. There was Morgan Young who knocked down some big shots early on too as Providence dominated the first period with a 26-5 score. The route was on, as Kuhlman finished with 22 points, Lauran Alvarez scored 16 points and Morgan Young chipped in 14 points to lead their team to victory.
The 59 point win was the largest in State Finals history, but Coach Gigi Bistrow and company are focused on making history in another category, as state champions.
“So proud of this team and the first District Championship at Providence! What an honor to be with this team. We’re going to the championship game, still work to be done” – Gigi Bistrow .
Providence will play nationally ranked Miami County Day Friday Night in Lakeland at 8 pm. Miami Country Day defeated Seffner Christian 81- 42 in the final four and has won three straight state titles and look to win another against Providence. The Spartans will have their hands full however, as the Stallions are the only team to boast an undefeated record in the state playoffs this year.
A night later, Miami Country Day ended the Stallions magical season with a 81-40 win in the Class 4A state championship game but that doesn’t take away from the Stallions best season in school history.
