‘Winning is all they know’: Todd Beamer, Decatur power through to girls basketball regional playoffs

Todd Beamer girls set to play Bellarmine Prep in the first round of the Hardwood Classic state basketball tournament March 8.

Todd Beamer girls basketball is leaving their competition in the postseason dust with five consecutive wins under the Titans belt.

Last week’s game against Union saw Beamer win 45-38. The Todd Beamer girls are set to play Bellarmine Prep at 10:30 a.m. in the first round of the Hardwood Classic state basketball tournament Thursday, March 8 at the Tacoma Dome.

Todd Beamer coach Corey Alexander said he is thrilled with the great performance the girls have been putting on this postseason, adding “it shows that hard work pays off.”

However, Alexander said the team is far from being done.

Looking further into postseason, Alexander said, will be another tough battle with two competitive teams.

“We’re looking forward to a good game,” he said.

Overall, Alexander said a major contributor to the team’s overall success is how they’ve learned to come together and work for one another, instead of focusing on individual goals.

“They wanted to see the team succeed,” he said.

Alexander said he has a lot of faith in the team and their future in this postseason.

“Our story is still being written.”

Decatur girls basketball has been going through postseason alongside Todd Beamer, sporting three overall wins late in the season. The Gators narrowly lost 63-54 to Moses Lake on Feb. 29.

Coach Elon Langston spoke to the team’s recent losses, saying they haven’t let it dampen their spirits.

Langston said the team’s performance was unexpected, but well-earned.

“We were expected to finish at the bottom of our division and we ended up 4th out of the entire district and top 16 in the entire 4A classification,” he said. “Nobody seen us coming but we knew deep down inside that all of our hard work over the years would finally pay off.”

Still, losing games is hard for the team, but Langston works to keep up morale for future games.

“I try my best to let them know it’s not the end of the world but I always push for us to do better and be better. A loss is only a loss if we don’t learn from it.”

Having made it this far in the postseason means more than words to the Gators, he said.

“We have been through the worst of times and now we finally get to feel what it feels like to be looked at as a winning program,” Langston said. “This season is definitely dedicated to the upperclassmen and Lady Gator alumni. For my underclassmen, winning is all they know.”

Beamer girls basketball beat Bellarmine and Union, will play against Union against this Saturday. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

Beamer girls basketball beat Bellarmine and Union, will play against Union against this Saturday. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

Beamer girls basketball beat Bellarmine and Union, will play against Union against this Saturday. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

Beamer girls basketball beat Bellarmine and Union, will play against Union against this Saturday. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.                                The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo. The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.

The Decatur Gators lost to both Union and Bellarmine during postseason, but will play Moses Lake this Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Haley Donwerth/staff photo.