MORRILTON, Ark. — We're just a couple of days away from high school basketball state championship games in Hot Springs.
The fun gets started on Thursday and first up will be the 3A title games, then at 6: 00 p.m. the 4A girl's game featuring the Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs will be underway.
For the third time in the last four years, Morrilton made the state semifinals. And for the first time in that span, they'll be playing in Hot Springs.
There's one word to describe it— different.
"A lot of people said we were gonna be down, but I said no, we won't be down, we'll be different. And it kind of picked up and it has just kind of been our mantra all year long," said Carin McNabb, head coach.
Meanwhile, their opponent will be the same. They'll be facing Farmington, who beat the Lady Devil Dogs in last year's semifinal and then went on to win the championship.
"I mean that was the goal this year. Last year we lost in the semifinals. This year we just wanted to get over that hump and get the chance to play Farmington again," said Johnna Brockman, Senior.
"It does mean a little bit more. They won and you always want to play the best to prove that you can compete with the best. They haven't been beat, so that's our goal," said Jennifer Hartman, Senior.
The Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs embrace the role of underdog.
"A lot of people thought that we would not be where we are at all and I just think that it's a reminder that we don't have to be the same as we were last year. As long as we have the same integrity and fight that we do, we're gonna be okay," said Sophia Wahrmnd, Senior.
"We're that team that is coming in and nobody really picks us to win. That's where we like to be. We're just gonna be gritty and tough," said Coach McNabb.
It's a mirror to their community.
"Morrilton is a blue-collar town. It's gritty, it's tough," McNabb added.
"Everybody roots for everybody. Everybody will feel it if we win," Wahrmnd added.
Come Thursday night in Hot Springs, the Lady Devil Dogs will be playing for more than just a ring.
"So many people have poured into the Lady Devil Dog program specifically. It's like we're doing it for them kinda," said Hartman.
The Lady Devil Dogs play Farmington on Thursday at 6: 00 p.m. in Hot Springs.
