The Stratford Girls Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the Region 3, Class 6A Regional Quarterfinal to face a Fort Bend Hightower team that was coming with 29 wins vs. only three losses. The Hurricanes featured a six-foot-three center with good footwork and deft hands. The Spartans were down 0-3 when Junior point guard Rachel Ashby hit Junior forward Kendall Davis sliding down mid-lane. Davis knocked in a short jumper with a defender in her face. Davis returned the favor when she passed into the lane to Freshman guard Tess Stephenson, who dribbled left, spun right, and laid the ball off the glass. Hightower played defense with speed, length, and spacing. Stephenson scored again via two free throws after being fouled on a shot. Ashby found Stephenson on the next series on the left wing, and Stephenson drained a three-pointer. Hightower began heating up, making threes and scoring inside. With the clock winding down in the first quarter, Ashby controlled the ball and then picked her moment, dicing into the defense, and putting in a layup before the buzzer sounded. The Spartans were down 11-16.

Stephenson scored on a reverse layup off the assist from Senior guard Emma Adisa, and it was 13-16. This was the zenith for the Spartans. At some point, midnight comes for Cinderella. Spartan shots fell just short. Ashby's and Stephenson's threes could not find their mark despite being razor close. There were miscues. It is easy to picture four missed threes and two short jumpers going in and adding 16 points to the second quarter. Instead it ended with the score 13-32.

The third quarter went much the same as the second. When you're being heavily pressured and you succeed, it's invigorating. When you struggle, it's exhausting. The Hurricanes' center was ruthlessly efficient. Ashby forced a steal at half court and fed Davis for a layup. The good shots were harder to come by. It was the fourth quarter before Junior guard Aria Taylor laid in a running jumper. Taylor followed with a similar shot from the right baseline. Ashby hit Stephenson for a long three. Senior forward Kendall Zoboroski scored the final point of her Stratford career on a free throw. The final was 23-60.

Stephenson led with 12 points. Davis had four points and five rebounds. Taylor had four points. Ashby had two points, four assists, and four steals.

The Spartans finished one of the best seasons in the program's history, maybe the best ever. 19 wins vs. 14 losses. Advancement to the Regional Quarterfinals.

• Stephenson, a freshman, led the team with 392 points (12.2 ppg) and in blocks (25). She was second in rebounds (164), steals (79), and assists (63).
• Ashby, a junior, led the team in assists (113) and steals (139). She was second in points (232/7.7 ppg).
• Zoboroski led the team with 170 rebounds and was fourth in points (177/5.4 ppg) and steals (38).
• Adisa was third in scoring with 206 points (6.2 ppg) and steals (44). Davis, a junior, was second in blocks (13) and third in rebounds (156).
• Taylor, a junior, was fifth in points (174) and third in assists (32).

The Spartans lose Seniors Zoboroski and Adisa, and also Ella Pezzia and Evyn Stallwitz. If the rest of the Varsity returns next season, plus picks up additions from a good JV Team, there will be a lot of firepower and expectations for the Spartans to equal or better their 2023-24 performance.