GAINESVILLE — Niki Carver knows that she and her teammates have already done something extraordinary.
Now Carver says that the North Hall girls basketball team is gunning for the sublime.
"We're going to be remembered by what we've already done -- but we're trying to hang a banner now," said Carver, a senior post. "We want to get to the Elite Eight or get further and just keep going. We want to be able to hang something in the gym."
The Lady Trojans set one program mark earlier this season, becoming the first North Hall girls team to clinch four straight state playoff berths. And after storming to a first round victory last week -- their third such success over that four-year span -- the Lady Trojans believe the table is set for something special indeed.
"We can leave any legacy we want to leave; we have the talent, the skill, the heart, the togetherness to do it," said senior guard Sadie Cleveland.
And now that the team is -- finally -- fully healthy and cresting a wave of momentum that has seen them win eight of their last nine, third-seeded North Hall finds itself brimming with confidence as it makes the long trek to Savannah for Thursday's Class AAA Sweet 16 showdown with top-ranked Johnson (Savannah).
"We feel pretty good about (Thursday's game); and we know that we're going to go down there and do our best and leave it all out on the court," said senior guard Tatum McQuillen. "We want to go past the Sweet 16; we haven't been able to do that yet."
It is that desire to work -- out-work the opposition, in fact -- that left coach Kristi House and her staff in no doubt that this year's team was special. Even when injuries hit, even when key region losses threw up obstacles, House believed her Lady Trojans would find a route to success.
"They hang their hat on the fact that they've played as hard as they can every single second of every game," said House, who watched her team open the season 7-7 against a brutal schedule before finding its feet down the stretch. "Whatever we ask them to do, they're going to do it to the best of their ability. Other teams aren't going to play as hard as them for 32 minutes, and that's made our job as coaches awesome."
It's also helped carry the Lady Trojans (19-10) through a season of attrition that has denied them both starters and key role players thanks to myriad injuries and could have derailed things early.
"They've been resilient and consistent," House said. "What they've accomplished has not come by accident. Some of those girls have overcome catastrophic injuries. But they keep coming back."
That includes leaders like Sadie Cleveland, who is second on the team at 13.8 points per game (as well as 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game) and only recently returned to the line-up after an enforced spell on the sidelines. Meanwhile, other standouts like leading scorer Taylor Anne Kelley (14.9 ppg, 2.9 steals, 2.1 assists), have also missed time. And while their absences have been felt, the Lady Trojans have largely taken it in stride.
"We've had so many different people step up this season," House said. "And we've even had people emerge over the last four-five weeks, like sophomore post Ansleigh Ferguson. Taylor Anne has stepped up her defense. Niki Carver is taking charges left and right... All of our seniors lead us; they've all taken leadership roles in the locker room and they all have ability."
They also have a unity that has provided plenty of support.
"We all have faith in each other; we have a lot of heart," senior guard Caroline Heard said.
"We're all really close," Kelley added. "We're more together than we've ever been; it's a true team. There's not one group here and one group there. Everyone is together."
Combine that desire with talent and belief and you get winning streaks and historic moments. And yet it was their one recent loss that perhaps displayed the Lady Trojans' attributes most impressively -- a 59-50 Region 7-AAA semifinal setback to No. 2 Greater Atlanta Christian, a game that saw North Hall storm back from a 19-point second quarter deficit and close within eight points before succumbing.
"The second half of that game showed we weren't going to fold our tents; we're going to scrap and claw for everything," House said.
And North Hall knows it will have to fight for everything if it is to find a way past Johnson on Thursday.
"They have a ton of talent and are impressive to watch," House said of the 24-2 Lady Atomsmashers, who feature guards Alexis Pierce (17.7 ppg, Jacksonville University signee) and Olivia Owens (13.4 ppg, Iona signee), along with 6-foot-5 post Giana Copeland (6.5 blocks per game).
"We just have to talk about a game plan and stick with it; these girls will do whatever we ask," House said.
For their part, the Lady Trojans are eager to test themselves against another favored foe.
"We knew we could get to this point, and we're excited," Kelley said. "We have to keep playing with heart."
Why stop now?
"I've wanted it so bad for these group; I wanted them to continue the journey last week and they did, and now I want them to keep going," House said. "They've been through a lot together, and this is another opportunity to celebrate and make memories."
NORTH HALL GIRLS at JOHNSON (SAVANNAH)
- WHAT: Class AAA playoff second round basketball game
- WHERE: Johnson High, Savannah
- WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday
- NORTH HALL (19-10, No. 3 seed Region 7-AAA): Defeated Pace Academy 44-25 in the first round
- JOHNSON (24-2, No. 1 seed Region 3-AAA): Defeated Crisp County 79-27 in the first round
