Lucy Young can’t remember the last time she enjoyed a bus ride as much as the one she and her Warren Central Lady Vikes took home from Madison Central Tuesday night.

The team almost enjoyed it too much.

When Young started the ever-popular “Who Let The Dogs Out” cheer, the bus almost turned over with the eruption from the players.

WC (24-12) will start its run for the state title Friday night at 7:30 against Grenada (21-10) at Shiloh Park in Brandon.

“We are not going to change our philosophy at all,” said Young, who led her team to a dramatic come-from-behind win over perennial power Madison Central in a best-of-three series. “We want them to play as hard as they ever have. At this point, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. That’s the way we’re approaching it.”

Unlike the first two rounds of the playoffs, the championship format is double-elimination. WC and Grenada represent the North, while Moss Point (29-5) and Meridian (26-6) battle in the South.

The winners of each bracket will play each other on Saturday, as will the losers. Game times for Saturday will not be determined until after Friday night’s outcome.

Young was expecting several scouting reports on Grenada, but the two teams have not met on the diamond in several years and Young said she knows very little about the Lady Chargers.

What she does know is that year-in and year-out, all three teams are very strong.

“I’ve been in this business for 24 years and I know the history of programs like Meridian and Moss Point and Grenada,” Young said. “For our team to be there, ranked with them, is an honor. It’s wonderful.”

The worst the Lady Vikes can finish is fourth in the state, which would be quite an accomplishment after a midseason slump.

The Lady Vikes had to beat Greenville in a blowout on the final day of the season to earn home-field advantage during the first round.

A two-game sweep of Starkville on Saturday and the dramatic Madison win Tuesday has the Lady Vikes rolling.

“Our girls are so excited that I don’t even think they realize what they’ve done,” said Young, who did not sleep a wink Tuesday night. “They are so happy and they should be. They’ve accomplished a lot.

“We exceeded what we expected to do this season and hereafter, everything is just gravy.”