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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The bi-district championship trophy is held high in the air as the Lady Blues celebrate their victory Thursday, March 19 over the Canyon Randall Lady Raiders. The next round for the Lady Blues was against the Lubbock-Cooper Lady Patriots in area. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Ava Street keeps the ball away from the Canyon Randall Lady Raiders during the Lady Blues’ bi-district matchup Thursday, March 19 in Burkburnett. The team won in a penalty shootout and moved on to the area round. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Lady Blues hold no excitement back as they are handed their bi-district championship trophy after their win Thursday, March 19 over the Canyon Randall Lady Raiders in Burkburnett. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Adi Pinkston moves the ball down the field while being watched by an opponent of Canyon Randall Lady Raiders. The Lady Blues were bi-district champions after their win Thursday, March 19 over the Lady Raiders. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Lady Blues rush the field to hug goalie Taylor Lauster and Ellie Weatherman, who secured the final goal in a penalty shootout during the bi-district matchup Thursday, March 19. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Lady Blues goalie Taylor Lauster blocks a shot from a Canyon Randall Lady Raiders player during a penalty shootout. The Lady Blues won 3-0 in the first round of the shootout during the bi-district matchup Thursday, March 19. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The Lady Blues and coaches Casey Weil and John Tuggle pose with the bi-district championship trophy the team won after their 3-0 victory over the Canyon Randall Lady Raiders.
The heat bearing down and an extended game was not enough to crush the spirit of the Lady Blues who walked away with another bi-district championship after their win over the Canyon Randall Lady Raiders.
The Lady Blues made the trip Thursday, March 19 to Burkburnett Bulldog Stadium for the bi-district matchup. The Lady Raiders were looking to defend their state championship title after defeating the Wimberley Lady Texans in April 2025.
Both teams put up a staunch defense and kept the game to 0-0 extending the contest to two 10-minute overtime periods. It was a penalty shootout that would be the deciding factor after three hours of playoff soccer.
Mai Bara started the shootout with a miss, but that was not the end for Lady Blues.
Between and after two misses from the Lady Raiders and a block from Lady Blues’ goalie Taylor Lauster, shots were made from Adi Pinkston, Ava Street and finally Ellie Weatherman to secure the 3-0 win.
Head coach Casey Weil said it was the team’s pride, grit and the Graham way that brought the win.
“We’ve preached it all year of why we play this game, who we play this game for. Whether it’s for each other, our community, our high school, whatever it may be, and there’s no quitting in these girls,” Weil said.
No matter the challenge, Weil said the Lady Blues step up and pull through.
“If we would have sat there and said, ‘Well these are our starters, and that’s who’s playing,’ then we would have lost in the first half. Everybody had to step up. Everybody has a role and they did that, and I’m just unbelievably proud of them,” he said.
The Lady Blues are heading Tuesday, March 24 to Hugh Sandifer Stadium in Abilene to play the Lubbock-Cooper Lady Patriots in the area round following Lubbock-Cooper’s 6-0 win over El Paso Bowie.
“I’m proud of Graham. This is a program win. We tell them, ‘You’ve got to take these steps to build and build and build,’ and man, what a phenomenal, huge step it was for our program today,” Weil said.
