By GALEN WELLNICKI
It took Rouse less than 32 minutes Tuesday night to destroy Georgetown’s security blanked in the District 19-5A basketball race, dominating the Lady Eagles, 56-44, in a “family night” game played in the GHS Auxillary Gym because of clock and scoreboard issues in Eagle Gym.
Gone was the two-game lead over second-place Cedar Park with three games remaining. Now the 11th-ranked Lady Eagles are in a position now where they must defeat the Lady Timberwolves at 7 p.m. Friday at Cedar Park to assure themselves of an undisputed claim on first place in the final 19-5A standings and the district’s top seeding in the playoffs.
After the loss, Georgetown, which had a eight-game victory streak terminated, stands 13-1 and Cedar Park is 12-2 followed by Rouse at 11-3. If GHS loses Friday night, the Lady Eagles and Lady Timberwolves appear headed for a co-championship and the need to break the deadlock for playoff seeding.
Both GHS and Cedar Park will conclude the regular sesason Tuesday against teams they bested easily in the first round. The Lady Eagles, now 22-7 on the year, will entertain Bastrop Cedar Creek, which it bested 77-29, and Cedar Park will visit Pflugerville Connally, which it downed 64-43.
Of course, if GHS wins Friday, it clinches the outright title and drops Cedar Park into a duel for second with Rouse, which plays Connally on Friday and Hutto on Tuesday. The Lady Eagles bested the Lady Timberwolves, 42-34, at Eagle Gym on Jan. 3.
On Tuesday night nothing seemed to come together for a Georgetown team that had beaten Rouse, 55-38, on Dec. 20 at the Raiders’ digs in their last outing before Christmas. Rouse shot 61 percent from the floor (16 of 26, including seven of 14 beyond the arc), while Georgetown only made 34 percent (12 of 35 and just hit two of eight 3-point attempts). The Lady Eagles were outrebounded 29-17. The loss followed on the heels of wins over Bastrop and East View in which GHS was less than sharpe.
“I can’t think of a phase of the game in which they weren’t better, including coaching,” GHS coach Rhonda Farney said. “They played well and were well prepared by coach (Lori) McDonald and her staff. I was disappointed in our rebounding. I think that it (the game) was more important to them than it was to us.”
The loss also marked the first time since a 51-36 defeat by 6A power Pflugerville on Nov. 15 that GHS didn’t have a scorer in double digits. Brooke Elliott, Jaelyn Knight and Emery Herman each scored nine points and senior Dee Day added eight.
The first quarter ended in a 9-9 tie with Georgetown not making a field goal in the first four minutes and 29 seconds. Rouse took the lead for good 33 seconds into the second period on a field goal by Jennifer Parker, starting a run of 10 consecutive points to go up 19-9 with 5:22 to go before halftime. GHS cut the lead to 29-21 at the half as a layup by B. Elliott with two seconds left kept the Raiders from taking a double-digit lead into the dressing room.
Georgetown came back stronger in the third quarter, cutting the lead to two points at 34-32 with 4:05 to go in the quarter. However, the 6-foot-1 Day drew her fourth foul with two remaining left in the period. The fourth quarter starter with the Lady Eagles down by four.
A 3-pointer by Taylor Douthitt put Rouse up by seven in the first 30 seonds on the fourth quarter and Georgetown never could get closer than five points at 43-38 and 45-40 on field goals by the 5-11 Knight. After Knight’s second field goal with 6:03 to go, GHS went dry in the scoring column for nearly three minutes. Rouse actually scored its final field goal with 6:32 remaining as it closed out the victory with 11 free throws.
Georgetown’s comeback effort was hindered by several shots that didn’t go down with the game still in doubt.
Brittney Martin led all scorers with 14 points and Parker, who missed the final seven minutes of the first half with an apparent leg injury, added 12 points and was the game’s leading rebounder with nine.
Going into the final two playing dates of the regualr season, 19-5A also appears headed toward a playoff for the fourth position between Bastrop (8-7) and East View (7-7), which look to be moving toward a tie for fourth at 9-7. Bastrop closes it season Friday at home against last-place Elgin (1-13) before taking its bye. Coach Dave Walla’s Patriots close out with Hutto at home on Friday and at Elgin on Tuesday.
The top-seed from 19-5A will probably play Waller in bi-district with the second seed going against either Magnolia (9-3) or Tomball (8-4), who also could end deadlocked for second in 20-5A. Waller, which plays first-place Tomball Memorial(12-0) on Friday can claim the fourth playoff spot with another win or a loss by Brenham on the first two playing dates.
in 17-5A, Lindale and Ennis are headed for a co-title with two games to play. Nacogdoches is solid in third and Jacksonville needs a win over Corsicana on Friday to take fourth.
District 18-5A boasts a major showdown on Friday as Temple (8-2) travels to front-running College Station (10-1). The Cougars, who embarrassed the Tem-Cats in the first meeting at Temple, will be concluding their regular season. Rudder also is 8-2 and could jump over Temple if College Station wins. Bryan (5-5) is safely in as the fourth-place team.
***
On the sub-varsity level against Rouse on Tuesday, the GHS JV improved to 13-0 in 19-5A with a 41-32 victory. Sophomore guard Ali Isbell led the way with 10 points. The game was played without a scoreboard. Timer Suzanne Isbell and scoreboard operator Tosha Doherty called out the time and score which were being kept manually at the scorer’s table.
On the freshman level, the Georgetown Blue took a 48-25 win to go 14-0 in district and 20-1 for the season. MacKenzy Mouton scored a team-high 10 points as five Lady Eagles finished with seven or more points.
Coach Kevin Spruill’s Freshman White concluded its season with a 14-7 record on the strength of a 49-4 win over Jarrell on Monday. A’Brielle Abrams and Keyla Perez each had 12 points.
DISTRICT 19-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL
Standings — x-Georgetown, 13-1; x-Cedar Park, 12-2; x- Rouse, 11-3; Bastrop, 8-7; East View, 7-7; Pflugerville Connally, 4-10; Hutto, 4-10; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 4-11; Elgin, 1-13.
Tuesday’s results — Rouse 56, Georgetown 44; East View 70, Connally 68; Cedar Park 63. Cedar Creek 33; Bastrop 58. Hutto 34. Bye — Elgin.
Friday’s games — Georgetown at Cedar Park, 7 p.m.; Elgin at Bastrop, 7 p.m.; Hutto at East View, 7 p.m.; Connally at Rouse, 7 p.m. Bye — Cedar Creek.
Tuesday (Feb. 7 games) — Cedar Creek at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Elgin, 7 p.m.; Cedar Park at Connally, 7 p.m.; Rouse at Hutto, 7 p.m. Bye — Bastrop.
(End of regular season)
X–clinched playoff berth.
OTHER KEY REGION III-5A DISTRICTS
(Districts 19-5A could face in early rounds of the playoffs)
17-5A — x-Ennis, 7-1; x- Lindale, 7-1; x-Nacogdoches, 5-3; Jacksonville, 3-5; Corsicana, 2-6; Whitehouse, 0-8. Tuesday’s results: Ennis 68, Whitehouse 30; Lindale 54, Corsicana 18; Nacogdoches 53, Jacksoville 36. Friday’s top matchup — Jacksonville clinches fourth playoff spot with win at Corsicana.
18-5A — x-College Station, 10-1; x-Temple, 8-2; x-Bryan Rudder, 8-2; x-Bryan, 5-5; Waco, 2-8; A&M Consolidate, 2-9; Waco University, 1-9. Tuesday’s results — College Station 53, Waco 47; Rudder 86; Bryan 58; , A&M Consolidated 69, Waco University 53. Bye — Temple. Friday’s top matchup — Temple at College Station.
20-5A — x-Tomball Memorial, 12-0; x-Tomball, 9-3; x-Magnolia, 8-4; Waller, 7-5; Brenham, 5-7; Huntsville, 3-9; Magnolia West, 3-9; Willis, 1-11. Tuesday’s results — Memorial 39, Magnolia 30; Tomball 35, Huntsville 32; Waller 51. Magnolia West 42; Brenham 46, Willis 37. Friday’s top matchups — Waller at Tomball Memorial, Brenham at Huntsville (Waller clinches fourth playoff spot with win or Brenham loss).
x–clinched playoff berth.
TUESDAY’S DISTRICT 19-5A GAMES
At Eagle Gym
Varsity
ROUSE 56, GEORGETOWN 44
ROUSE (56) — Brttney Martin 3-4 5-7 14, Hannah Hendricks 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Douthitt 1-3 4-4 7, Daszia Sullivan 1-2 0-1 2, Chloe Austin 3-5 0-1 8, Emily Schaible 2-3 2-4 7, Jennifer Parker 4-4 4-8 12, Zoe Holmes 2-4 2-3 6. Totals: 16-26 17-28 56.
GHS (44) — Brooke Elliott 2-8 5-5 9, Josie Weirich 1-4 0-0 3, Taylor Elliott 0-2 2-2 2, Jaelyn Knight 4-7 1-2 9, Maddie Vickers 1-2 6-6 9, Emery Herman 1-6 2-2 4, Dee Day 3-6 2-4 8, Emily Jones 0-0 0-2 0. Totals: 12-35 18-23 44.
Halftime: Rouse, 29-21. 3-point shooting: RHS 7-14 (Martin 3-4, Hendricks 0-1, Douthitt 1-2, Sullivan 0-1, Austin 2-3, Schaible 1-2, Holmes 0-1); GHS 2-8 (B. Elliott 0-2, Weirich 1-3, Knight 0-1, Vickers 1-2). Rebounds: RHS 27 (Parker 9, Holmes 5); GHS 19 (Herman 6, Knight 4, Day 4). Assists: GHS 10 (B. Elliott 4). Steals: GHS 17 (T. Elliott 5, B. Elliott 4). Blocks: GHS 1 (Day). Turnovers: GHS 13. Total fouls: RHS 21, GHS 24. Fouled out: RHS, Holmes (1:56. fourth); GHS, T. Elliott (4:03, fourth). Technical fouls: none. Records: Rouse, 11-3 in 19-5A, 21-10; Georgetown, 13-1 in 19-5A, 22-7.
Sub-Varsity
(GHS scoring only)
GEORGETOWN JV 41, ROUSE JV 32 — Gracie Speer 2, Morgan Bruning 2, Ali Isbell 10, Samari O’Brien 9, Hailey Wickline 4, Shelby Jones 2, Miranda Gil 4, Emili Harris 4, Jade Smith 4. Halftime: GHS, 27-18. GHS record: 13-0 in 19-5A, 18-3.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE 48, ROUSE FRESHMAN 25 — Hailey Hanson 4, Hailey Smith 7, Maya Perry 1, Kylie Ellsworth 8, Kylee Sander 2, Mercedes Robledo 0, Keiana San Miguel 7, McCall Hampton 9, MacKenzy Mouton 10. Halftime: GHS, 30-16. GHS records, 14-0 in 19-5A, 20-1.
MONDAY’S NON-DISTRICT GAME
Sub-Varsity
(GHS scoring only)
GHS FRESHMAN WHITE 49, JARRELL FRESHMEN 4 — Caroline Horton 6, Tatiana Williams 4, Na’Keia Cook 6, A’Brielle Abrams 12, Celeste Valdez 2, Marney Hazell 0. Sueellen Albrecht 3, Rachel Heine 0, Keyla Perez 12, Madison Rincon 3. Halftime: GHS, 20-1. GHS record: GHS finished season with 14-7 record.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Jan. 30)
1. Amarillo (31-1). 2. Mansfield Timberview (28-2). 3. Tomball Memorial (24-4). 4. Canyon (21-3). 5. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (26-4). 6. Saginaw Boswell (30-3). 7. Frisco Liberty (22-6). 8. Kerrville Tivy (29-3). 9. Frisco Lone Star (21-6). 10. The Colony (30-1). 11. Georgetown (22-6). 12. Austin SFA (27-5). 13. Colleyville Heritage (23-6). 14. Mansfield Summit (23-8). 15. College Station (24-6). 16. El Paso Andress (25-3). 17. Sulphur Springs (24-3). 18. Dayton (25-3). 19. Houston Madison (20-7). 20. Crowley (21-5). 21. Fort Worth Trimble Tech (24-7). 22. Corpus Christi Carroll (24-6). 23. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (23-7). 24. Laredo Cigarroa (25-7). 25. Lubbock Monterey (21-5).
By region (in order):
Region 1 — Amarillo, Canyon, Boswell, Heritage, Andress, Trimble Tech, Monterey.
Region 2 — Timberview, Liberty, Lone Star, The Colony, Summit, Sulphur Springs, Crowley.
Region 3 — Tomball Memorial, Barbers Hill, Georgetown, College Station, Dayton, Madison.
Region 4 — Tivy, SFA, Carroll, Veterans Memorial, Cigarroa.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Jan. 30)
1. Amarillo. 2. Mansfield Timberview. 3. Georgetown. 4. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill. 5. Canyon. 6. Frisco Liberty. 7. Tomball Memorial. 8. The Colony. 9. Saginaw Boswell. 10. El Paso Andress. 11. Frisco Lone Star. 12. Sulphur Springs. 13. Austin SFA. 14. Dayton. 15. Kerrville Tivy. 16. Laredo Cigarroa. 17. Plainview. 18. Colleyville Heritage. 19. Red Oak. 20. Mansfield Summit. 21. Cedar Park. 22. El Paso Burges. 23. Corpus Christi Carroll. 24. Highland Park. 25. Brownsville Veterans Memorial.
Others receiving votes: Mansfield Legacy, Marble Falls, El Paso Riverside, Fort Worth Trimble Tech, Lubbock Monterey,Houston Madison, Wylie East, Seguin, Ennis, San Antonio Lanier, Crowley, San Antonio Harlandale, Prosper, College Station, Rouse.