Pike Liberal’s Lady Patriots have been practicing hard all week and there is no doubt the girls from Pike are hoping the third time is a charm for them.

The Lady Pats (17-9) face rival Lee-Scott (26-2) for the third time this season Friday in the AISA Class 3A Final Four at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

The previous meetings with the Lady Warriors ended in 38-37 and 40-22 losses, but PLAS head coach Steven Kilcrease said his team is ready for another shot.

“We had a great week of practice and we feel good about Friday,” Kilcrease said. “We wanted to come out with the No. 1 or No. 2 seed so that we would not have to play Lee-Scott until the championship game if all worked out, but we are actually glad things worked out the way they did. This way we had the entire week to plan for them.”

The Lady Patriots called upon the assistance of the PLAS boys’ team to help simulate the speed of the Lady Warriors.

“They have three really good guards,” Kilcrease said. “We have to find a way to contain them if we want to win.”

Kilcrease said Jessica Washington is one of the best shooters, male or female, in the AISA and Olivia Maddox and Melissa Maddox run the floor well for Lee-Scott.

“Jessica can shoot from anywhere and all three of them smother you on defense,” he said. “We need to find ways to take advantage of their aggressiveness.”

Washington has connected on more than 100 three-pointers this season and she had 40 points in 14 minutes in the Lady Warriors’ Elite Eight game against Morgan Feb. 13.

“We need to find a way to contain her,” Kilcrease said.

The Lady Patriots have had an intense week of practice according to Kilcrease and he said they should be ready for the 2 p.m. tip with the Lady Warriors Friday.