By GALEN WELLNICKI
After opening the 19-5A girls’ basketball race with their open date, Georgetown’s Lady Eagles have ripped their first three 19-5A opponents by a total of 168 points, including Friday night’s record-book
79-12 victory over Elgin at Eagle Gym.
The fifth-lowest point yield in Rhonda Farney’s 28 years at the Lady Eagles’ helm was even-more special as it came before members of Georgetown’s 1995-1996 state semifinals team who were honored at halftime.
The victory over the Wildcats put the Lady Eagles, 3-0 in district and 10-5 on the season, in second place in the 19-5A standings, a half-game behind Cedar Park (4-0), which is yet to have its first-round open date. The Lady Eagles and Lady Timberwolves are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the nine-team district chase.
The Lady Eagles sprinted to a 10-0 advantage and led 24-4 after one quarter, 44-4 at the half as they pitched a shutout in the second quarter. The led 62-5 after the third quarter, allowing just one free throw in the period. The lead hit 50 for the first time on a put-back by freshman Emery Herman with 2:15 left in the third and hit 60 initially on a bucket by junior Maddie Vickers with 6:28 remaining in the game.
While putting down 32 of 59 field goals, GHS allowed just four successes in 25 attempts. The Lady Eagles accelerated the offense with 24 assists (seven by Herman) and 21 steals (eight by Vickers). Georgetown outrebounded Elgin, 36-12 (with sophomore Kaelyn Knight pulling down eight and Herman adding seven).
In the scorebook, Day scored 19 for the second consecutive game and senior Taylor Elliott added 15. Junior Josie Weirich and Herman each had 10 as all eight varsity Lady Eagles scored five or more points.
“Again, I was very pleased with our team’s consistent effort on Friday night,” Farney said. “Championship-caliber teams must find a way to motivate themselves regardless of the level of the competition and that’s what I feel like we have been successful doing the past couple of games.”
GHS had beaten Hutto, 78-14, on the road Tuesday, coming off a Silver Bracket title this past weekend in the 38th annual Jack Frost Tournament.
“We are entering the meat of our district schedule playing Bastrop, East View, Rouse and Cedar Park,” Farney said. “Now is when I hope all the weight lifting and conditioning that our team has done will pay off. The key is for us to continue to take care of the ball, play great defense and rebound.”
The Lady Eagles visit Bastrop on Tuesday (3-1) and have East View at home on Friday. Game times this week will not be at the traditional time. GHS will face East View at 5:30 p.m.
“Tonight was very special for Kellye Richardson and me to get to see and visit with the players from our 1995-1996 state semifinalist team, Farney said. “We were especially pleased that our current players had the opportunity to meet the successful women our former players have become.“
The 1995-1996 state teams’ theme was “The Tie that Binds.” They were extremely close knit with three returning starters (Natalie) Tucker, (Whitney) Reierson, and (Amy) Johnson. Georgetown won two tournaments, the District 14-5A title (largest UIL classification at the time) and the Region II-5A crown. The team, seasoned by 13 games against state-ranked teams, took No. 1 Alief Elsik (who was
43-0 at the time) to the wire in the state semifinals before losing, 59-55. The team cemented itself in Lady Eagle tradition with a 34-3 record. They still hold the team record for Team Offense with 67.2 points per game for a total of 2,486 total points. They also have the team record for consecutive home-court wins with 32 from 1994-1996.
“We are all saddened at the loss last year of our wonderful friend and consummate teammate Whitney Reierson,” Farney said.
Whitney still holds the Lady Eagle record for varsity career starts with 140; varsity career wins with 126; varsity career rebounds with 1,058.
“Whitney is missed every day but especially tonight when we honor her Lady Eagle team.” Farney said.
Addressing the team, Farney said, “Your legacy is dedication and hard work to achieve a team goal that was bigger than any one of you. Whitney embodied that attribute as do each of you. Kellye, Rissa (Thomas Cook) and I are honored and feel blessed to have known and coached each of you!”
Other members of the team who could not be here tonight were Elissa Knox Ortiz, Jodi Moravec, Caroline Koy Gorman, Chris Edgar, Susan Gunn Henson, coach Jill Warren and coach Amy Claborne.
GHS also shined on the sub-varsity level against Elgin. The JV claimed a 64-12 victory in which Elgin did not score in the first half (35-0) and didn’t get its first basket until 6:50 remained in the third quarter. Hailey Wickline topped the scoring column with 15, and Jade Smith, Samari O’Brien and Shelby Jones each added 11.
The Freshman Blue claimed a 60-14 victory with McCall Hampton and Keiana San Miguel scoring 17 and 12 points, respectively.
Both sub-varsity teams also are 3-0 in district.
DISTRICT 19-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL
Standings—Park, 4-0; Georgetown, 3-0; Bastrop. 3-1; Rouse, 2-1; Pflugerville Connally, 1-2; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 1-3; Elgin, 1-3; Hutto, 1-3; East View, 0-3.
Friday’s results — Georgetown 79, Elgin 12; Cedar Park 66, East View 56; Connally 59, Hutto 53; Bastrop 35, Cedar Creek 33. Bye—Rouse.
Tuesday’s games –Georgetown at Bastrop, 6 p.m.; Cedar Creek at East View, 7 p.m.; Cedar Park at Rouse, 7 p.m.; Connally at Elgin, 7 p.m. Bye—Hutto.
FRIDAY’S 19-5A GAMES
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 79, ELGIN 12
ELGIN (12)—Tiffany Abernathy 0-3 0-1 0, Alexia Hernandez 0-0 0-0 0, Jessica Navejas 0-0 1-2 1, Kenshavita Knighten 0-1 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Atyanna Freeman 0-5 0-0 0, Hope Dybus 0-0 0-0 0, Andrenique Roberson 1-3 0-0 2, Rebekah Prinz 1-6 0-0 3, Briahnna Aguirre 2-7 1-2 6. Totals: 4-25 2-4 12.
GHS (79)—Brooke Elliott 2-4 0-0 6, Josie Weirich 3-6 2-2 10, Taylor Elliott 6-8 1-1 16, Jaelyn Knight 3-8 1-1 7, Maddie Vickers 2-8 1-1 5, Emery Herman 5-9 0-2 10, Day 8-11 3-6 19, Emily Jones 3-5 0-0 6. Totals: 32-59 8-13 79.
Halftime: GHS, 44-4. 3-point shooting: EHS 2-8 (Abernathy 0-1, Knighten 0-1, Freeman 0-1, Prinz 1-4, Aeuirre 1-1); GHS 7-15 (B. Elliott 2-3, Weirich 2-5, T. Elliott 3-3, Vickers 0-3, Herman 0-1). Rebounds: EHS 12 (Freeman 3, Roberson 3, Aguirre 3); GHS 36 (Knight 8, Herman 7, B. Elliott 5, Vickers 5, Day 5). Assists: GHS: 24 (Herman 7, B. Elliott 6, T. Elliott 4, Vickers 4). Steals: GHS 21 (Vickers 8, B. Elliott 4, Knight 4). Blocks: GHS 4 (Vickers 2, Day 1, Jones 1). Turnovers: GHS 4. Total fouls: EHS 16, GHS 8. Fouled out: EHS, Roberson (3:13, fourth). Records: Elgin, 1-3 in 19-5A, 2-9; GHS, 3-0 in 19-5A, 10-5.
Sub-Varsity
(GHS scoring only)
GHS JV 64, ELGIN JV 12—Gracie Speer 2, Morgan Bruning 2, Ali Isbell 6, Samari O’Brien 11, Hailey Wickline 15, Shelby Jones 11, Miranda Gil 2, Emili Harris 4, Jade Smith 11. Halftime: GHS, 44-2. GHS record: 3-0 in 19-5A, 7-3.
GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 60, ELGIN FRESHMEN 14—Hailey Hanson 2, Hailey Smith 4, Maya Perry 4, Kylie Ellsworth 2, Kylee Sander 7, Mercedes Robledo 4, Keiana San Miguel 12, McCall Hampton 17, MacKenzy Mouton 8. Halftime: GHS, 34-6. GHS record: 3-0 in 19-5A, 9-1.