It’s a week of decision for the Georgetown Lady Eagles. Games on Tuesday and Friday with Rouse, currently tied for second with GHS, and front-running Cedar Park will determine GHS’ seeding from District 19-5A in the 128-team UIL Class 5A state playoffs.
After bouncing East View, 52-36, on Friday night at Eagle Gym, the Lady Eagles appear to be headed for either the second or third slot on the 19-5A postseason ladder. Entering this week’s play, Cedar Park stands atop the standings at 13-0 and Georgetown and Rouse are tied for second at 11-2.
In all practical senerios, the Lady Eagles, now 21-8 on the year, must beat Rouse (25-7) at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the Raiders’ hardwoods to have a solid shot at the runnerup slot. After playing Rouse, the Lady Eagles will entertain Cedar Park at 7 p.m.Friday before closing out the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Bastrop Cedar Creek.
Even if the Lady Eagles beat Rouse, they will have a tough time retaining the undispute hold on second place as the Raiders close out with what appears to be a less-taxing schedule — at fourth-place finisher Pflugerville Connally on Friday and at home against Hutto next Tuesday.
In addition to playing GHS, Cedar Park closes out with Cedar Creek and Connally, both at home.
Rouse, which jumped to a 20-3 lead in the first meet in the final game before the Christmas Break, survived a Georgetown comeback to win the first meeting 44-41 at Eagle Gym. If GHS wins Tuesday night, the season series will be split and neither team will own the tie-breaker.
Friday’s victory was Georgetown’s 12th consecutive win over East View — all in district play — since the Patriots began UIL championship competition during the 2012-2013 campaign. The closest game in the series was earlier this year when the Lady Eagles’ won 44-43 in overtime. at East View.
GHS dominated the series over the first three seasons, winning by an average of 28.2 points per game, butthe series has tightened considerably over the last three years with the Lady Eagles’ victory margin being just 8.8 per contest. The closest season was 2015-16 when Georgetown’s combined winning margin was 13 points (44-34 and 35-32).
There were two major differences btween the mid-December meeting between GHS and East View and Tuesday night’s contest — 1. the Lady Eagles did not lose a 10-point halftime lead and see the Patriots outscore them 26-16 in the second half to send the game into overtime. 2. East View hung in the first game on its 3-point shooting as nine of its 15 baskets were treys. Tuesday, they managed just three success beyond the arc in 18 attempts.
GHS turned the long-range shooting tables somewhat, making six 3-pointers in 10 attempts.
“I was so excied for our seniors,” Georgetown coach Rhonda Farney said of the win over their arch-rival. “It was a great team effort. Jade Smith came back into the game and made some key plays to help us build the second-half lead. Kylie (sophomore guard) Ellsworth, Jaelyn (junior guard) Knight Josie (senior guard) Weirich and Ali (junior guard) Isbell had their moments.
“I have to give credit to our coaching staff for their contributions to the victory — Kellye (Richardson) getting into the press defense, Kristin (Curtis) with the offense and Kevin (Spruill) doing a good job getting out kids into outstanding shape. I couldn’t be more pleased tonight.”
After Ellsworth opened scoring with a 3-pointer, the Lady Patriots (4-9 in 19-5A) scored eight consecutive points to take the lead. However, a trey by senior Josie Weirich and a free throw and basket by Knight closed the gap tp 10-9 at the end of the first quarter.
With Weirich, Knight and Ellsworth each scoring three points in an 11-1 run at the start of the second quarter to claim a 20-11 lead with 2:31 to go in the half, but East View trimmed the advantage to 20-16 at the half. The Patriots sliced the led to three points three times in the opening four minutes of the third quarter, but could get to closer.
The Lady Eagles basically put the game away when they stared a span with 3:52 remaining in the third-quarter in which they outscored EV, 16-3, before the Patriots’ Cassidy Salyer snapped the streak when she hit a 3-pointer with 6:51 to go in the fourth period, leaving GHS ahead 40-26. A five-point run by senior Diamond Morrison helped reduced the Georgetown lead to eight at 41-33 with 3:26 to go.
GHS then closed out the victroy with a bucket by senior Maddie Vickers, six free throws and a basket at the buzzer by junior guard Samari O’Brien.
Georgetown shot 51 percent (15 of 29) with Ellsworth topping the list with 14 points and Knight adding 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Lady Eagles posted a 26-21 edge on the boards. Weirich and Vickers contributed nine and seven points, respectively.
Including the meager 3-of-18 beyond the arc, East View only shot 27 percent (12 of 43) from the floor. Morrison and Paighton Corley paced the Patriots’ attack with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The girls game was played as the second half or a varsity doubleheader with the boys. GHS also won that encounter.
The Lady Eakles swept all three sub-varsity games, winning the JV contest 64-35 on Friday night and the Freshman Blue took a 42-15 vedict and the Freshman White won 30-13. The freshman games were played early Saturday.
With only three 19-5A teams competing in Freshman B action, the White clinched its district title, sweepting both Hutto and East View for a 4-0 mark. Reece Johnson led the White with 15 points.
The Freshman Blue retained their lead in the 19-5A freshman A race with a 13-0 mark as Graci Harris put down 18 points. The Blue are now 24-2 on the year as is the JV.
Hailey Smith with 20 and Maya Perry with 16 led the JV, which improved to 12-1 in district, one game behind Cedar Park.
GEORGETOWN VS. EAST VIEW
At Eagle Gym, Friday, Jan. 26
GEORGETOWN 52, EAST VIEW 36
EAST VIEW (36) — Mary Brown 0-3 1-2 1, Paighton Corley 4-9 3-6 12, Diamond Morrison 5-12 3-3 14, Jessica Workman 0-1 0-0 0, Alauna Ortega 1-1 0-0 2, Cassidy Salyer 1-6 1-2 4, Sydney Huck 0-1 0-0 0, Alex Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Monisha Sathianathan 0-0 0-0 0, Lilly Brown 1-7 1-3 3, Sarah Workman 0-2 0-0 0, Elizabeth Daniel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 12-43 9-16 36.
GHS (52) — Ali Isbell 0-0 2-4 2, Josie Weirich 3-5 0-0 9, Samari O’Brien 1-2 0-0 2, Kylie Ellsworth 4-7 4-6 14, Mackenzy Mouton 0-1 2-2 2, Jaelyn Knight 3-9 6-10 12, Maddie Vickers 2-3 2-2 7, Emili Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Jade Smith 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 15-29 16-24 52.
Halftime: GHS, 20-16. 3-point shooting: EV 3-18 (M. Brown 0-2, Corley 1-2, Morrison 1-6, Salyer 1-3, L. Brown 0-5); GHS 6-10 (Weirich 3-5, Ellsworth 2-3, Vickers 1-2). Rebounds: EV 21 (Corley 5, Morrison 5); GHS 26 (Knight 13, Vickers 6). Assists: GHS 6 (Vickers 3). Steals: EV 8 (Coley 2, Morrison 2, L. Brown 2); GHS 10 (Ellsworth 2, Knight 2, Vickers 2). Blocks: EV 1 (L. Brown); GHS 4 (Smith 2, Knight 2). Turnovers: EV 10, GHS 13. Total fouls: EV 20, GHS 15. Fouled out: EV, J. Worthman (fourth, 1:20). Technical fouls: none. Records: East View, 4-9 in 19-5A, 11-17; Georgetown, 11-2 in 19-5A, 21-8.
DISTRICT 19-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
(Through games of Jan. 26)
Standings: x-Cedar Park, 13-0; x-Rouse, 11-2; x-Georgetown, 11-2; x-Pflugerville Connally, 8-5; Bastrop, 5-9; East View, 4-9; Hutto, 4-9; Elgin, 2-12; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 2-12.
x — clinched playoff berth.
Friday’s results — Georgetown 52, East View 36; Connally 46, Bastrop 36; Rouse 65, Cedar Creek 35; Hutto 60, Elgin 50. Bye: Cedar Park.
Tuesday’s games — Georgetown at Rouse, 7 p.m.; Connally at East View, 7 p.m.; Cedar Creek at Cedar Park, 7 p.m.; Hutto at Bastrop, 7 p.m. Bye: Elgin.
Friday’s games — Cedar Park at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Hutto, 7 p.m.; Rouse at Connally, 7 p.m.; Bastrop at Elgin, 7 p.m. Bye: Cedar Creek.
Tuesday (Feb. 6) games — Georgetown at Cedar Creek, 7 p.m.; Connally at Cedar Park, 7 p.m.; Hutto at Rouse, 7 p.m.; Elgin at East View, 7 p.m. Bye: Bastrop.
(End of regular season)
AROUND THE REGION
(Through games of Jan. 26)
Standings
District 20-5A — x-Magnolia West, 9-2; xy-Huntsville, 8-3; Tomball, Memorial, 8-3; Willis, 6-5; Waller, 5-6; Magnolia, 3-8; Tomball, 4-7, Brenham, 1-10.
x — clinched playoff berth. y — has head-to-head tie-breaker over Waller.
Friday’s results — Magnolia West 61, Magnolia 36; Tomball Memorial 43, Willis 32; Huntsville 35, Waller 32; Tomball 43, Brenham 36.
Tuesday’s games — Magnolia West at Waller, 6:30 p.m.; Tomball Memorial at Magnolia, 6:30 p.m.; Huntsville at Tomball, 6:30 p.m.; Brenham at Willis, 6:30 p.m.
***
District 18-5A — x-Temple, 10-0; Waco University, 6-3; Bryan Rudder, 6-3; College Station, 4-6; Waco, 3-6; College Station A&M Consolidated, 4-6; Bryan, 0-9.
x-clinched playoff berth.
Friday’s results — Temple 71, Waco 59; A&M Consolidated 71, Bryan 49; Bryan Rudder 76, College Station 66. Bye: Waco University.
Tuesday’s games — Waco at College Station, 6:30 p.m.; Bryan Rudder at Bryan, 6:30 p.m.; A&M Consolidated at Waco University, 6:30 p.m. Bye: Temple.
***
District 17-5A — x- Ennis, 7-0; x- Nacogdoches, 6-1; Jacksonville, 3-4; Lindale, 2-5; Corsicana, 2-5, Whitehouse, 1-6.
x– clinched playoff berth.
Friday’s results — Ennis 57, Lindale 29; ; Jacksonville 50, Whitehouse 40; Nacogdoches 68, Corsicana 31.
Tuesday’s games — Ennis at Whitehouse, 6 p.m.; Corsicana at Lindale, 6 p.m.; Nacogdoches at Jacksonville, 6 p.m.
SUB-VARSITY GAMES
(GHS scoring only)
GHS JV 64, EAST VIEW JV 35 — A’Brielle Abrams 6, Kylee Sander 7, Hailey Hanson 0, Hailey Smith 20, Maya Perry 16, Mercedes Robledo 8, SueEllen Albrecht 0 Alicia King 7. Halftime: GHS, 40-17. GHS record: 12-1 in 19-5A, 24-2.
GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 42, EAST VIEW FRESHMAN A 15 — Graci Harris 18, Jordayn Stout, Vyctorya Lehr 8, Megan Herring 4, Lauren Woodard 2, Skylar Neugent 5. Halftime: GHS, 24-8. GHS record: 13-0 in 19-5A, 24-2.
GHS FRESHMAN WHITE 30, EAST VIEW FRESHMAN B 13 — Natalie Hutchens 0, Reece Johnson 15, Lizzette Rodriguez 0, McKenna Jansen 3, Cheyenne Garcia 6, Abilgail Salinas 4, Maddie LaCour 2, Meagan Wolfe 0. Halftime: GHS, 11-10. GHS record: 4-0 in 19-5A (won district championship); 12-3.
Source: Lady Eagles Basketball.
— By GALEN WELLNICKI