By GALEN WELLNICKI
After a 2-1 performance in the featured four-team Carolina Showcase bracket of the Carolina Invitational in Charleston, S.C., this past week, the Georgetown Lady Eagles will return to District 19-5A competition this week with a pair of games that will complete the first round of the 16-contest race.
The Lady Eagles are coming off a 45-44 victory over Northwood Academy from North Charleston in their third game against teams that are highly ranked in their homestates. The Chargers, 10-5 after the loss to Georgetown were ranked 14th in South Carolina by Max Preps.
Georgetown, which had a nine-game winning streak stopped in Wednesday’s 16-point loss to Holy Innocents Episcopal of Atlanta, will take a 15-6 season mark into Tuesday’s key 19-5A battle with Cedar Park at 7 p.m. on the Eagle Gym hardwoods. The Lady Eagles will conclude the first round on Friday when they travel to Bastrop Cedar Creek for a 7 p.m. battle.
The Lady Eagles will take a 6-0 district mark on to the court against the Lady Timberwolves (5-1 in 19-5A and 18-7 on the season). Cedar Park is coming off a 3-2 showing in the Waco Midway’s M.T. Rice Tourament, but lost to 6A opponents in their final two starts in the event — 39-30 to Belton and 50-30 to the host Pantherettes. Cedar Park’s lone district loss was 43-42 at Rouse on Dec. 13.
If Georgetown beats Cedar Park it will have a two-game margin over the field. If the Lady Timberwolves win, GHS and CP will be tied for the lead with a probable one-game edge over Rouse and Bastrop.
In action at Charleston, the Lady Eagles were selection for the Sportsmanship Award in the 64-team event that features to four-team top-tier showcases and seven eight-school brackets. GHS seniors Dee Day and point guard Brooke Elliott were named to the all-tournament team. Georgetown had opened the tournament with a 52-32 win over St. John’s Catholic, Md.
“It was a great tournament and a very good tip,” Farney said of the five-day jont to the Carolina Invitational. “There were a lot of college coaches on hand.”
Georgetown’s one-point victory against the Chargers was earned with strong clutch performances down the strech.
“It was another extremely physical game,” said Farney, who improved her career victory total to 1,073 games. “E.J. (Jones) put us ahead to stay with a couple free throws and Taylor (Elliott) made a big steal down the stretch.
“Brooke and Taylor both got three fouls early and we had to chage our rotation without Maddie (junior guard Vickers, who sprained her ankle in Wednesday’s game) unable to play. Josie gave us good minutes there. I was especially pleased with Dee and everbody we put on the court gave us good minutes.
“I was pleased the way we regrouped after Wednesday’s (52-36) loss to a very excellent big opponent. We were down (to Northwood) by 11 at one point and came back. I was nice to win a game like that.”
Georgetown led 11-9 at the quarter and 23-18 at half, but was outscored 15-3 in third period to trail by seven. With B. Elliott scoring five and Day and Jones both putting four points in the book, the Lady Eagles outscored the Chargers, 19-11, in the fourth quarter.
Offensively, GHS hit on 16 of 31 shots with the 6-1 Day scoring a team-high 16 and Jones and B. Elliott additing 10 and nine, respectively. Freshman Emery Herman scored four pointd, but had a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and six steals. Despite her early fould troubles T. Elliott had five of the Lady Eagles’ 13 assists and 10 of their 27 steals.
CAROLINA CLASSIC
At Charleston, S.C.
Thursday’s Game
GEORGETOWN 45, NORTHWOOD ACADEMY 44
GHS (45) — Brooke Elliott 2-4 2-4 9, Josie Weirich 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Elliott 0-3 2-4 2, Jaelyn Knight 2-3 0-0 4, Emery Herman 2-3 0-1 4, Dee Day 6-14 4-7 16, Emily Jones 3-4 4-4 10. Totals: 16-31 12-20 45.
NORTHWOOD ACADEMY (44) — McKenzie Yon 4 1-2 10, Ravyn Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Elysa Wesolek 2 2-2 6, Priscilla Delane3 1-2 9, Jailah Melvin 4 1-2 11, Carrington Simpson 1 0-0 2, Bee Peatross q-0-0-2, Angel Middleton 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 5-8 44.
Halftime: GHS 23-18. 3-point shooting: GHS 1-4 (B. Elliott 1-1, T. Elliott 0-2, Herman 0-1); NA 5 (Delaney 2, Melvin 2). Rebounds: GHS 28 (Herman 8, Day 7, Jones 6). Assists: GHS 13 (T. Elliott 5, Herman 4). Steals: GHS 27 (T. Elliott 10, Herman 6, Day 4, B. Elliott 3). Blocks: GHS 0. Turnovers: GHS 5. Total fouls: GHS 12, NA 18. Fouled out: GHS, none. Records: Georgetown, 15-6; Northwood Academy, 10-5.
NOTE: Complete Northwood Academy statistics unavailable.
***
Holy Innocents Episcopal, Ga., 69, St. John’s Catholic Prep, Md., 35
Final Carolina Showcase Standings
Holy Innocents Episcopal, 3-0; Georgetown, 2-1; St. John’s Catholic Prep, 1-2; Northwood Academy, 0-3.
DISTRICT 19-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL
Standings — Georgetown, 6-0; Cedar Park, 5-1; Bastrop, 5-2; Rouse, 4-2; Pflugerville Connally, 2-4; East View, 2-4; Hutto. 2-4; Elgin, 1-5; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 1-6.
Tuesday’s games — Cedar Park at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Hutto, 7 p.m.; Bastrop at Elgin, 7 p.m.; Rouse at Connally, 7 p.m. Bye — Cedar Creek.
Friday’s games — Georgetown at Cedar Creek, 7 p.m.; Elgin at East View, 7 p.m.; Connally at Cedar Park, 7 p.m.; Hutto at Rouse, 7 p.m. Bye — Bastrop.
(End of first round)