Georgetown’s Lady Eagles and Temple’s Tem-Cats relegated a couple villes — Huntsville and Jacksonville, respectively — to the Class 5A bi-district pit of misery on Monday night. For the Lady Hornets and Maidens, the only dilly, dilly were the pickles at the concession stand.
Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Harker Heights, No. 19 Georgetown and No. 8 Temple will try to continue the relegation game when they meet in an area round playoff. The survivor will advance to the Region III-5A quarterfinals.
In Monday’s action, both teams started strong and finished with on-sided victories. The Lady Eagles, the second seed from 19-5A, bouced the Lady Hornets, 52-26, in Hearne as the third-place team from 20-5A was only able to make eight of its 46 shots against a strong GHS defensive effort.
Farther north in Fairfield, the Tem-Cats’ pressure defense completely strangled the Maidens’ offense in a 60-8 victory over a team with no senior starters and had its leading scorer and rebounder on the shelf with an injury sustained in last Friday’s district playoff. Jacksonville turned the ball over 38 times, according to a report in the Jacksonville Progress.
The winner of the Georgetoen-Temple game will face either 19-5A rival Rouse or 17-5A champion Ennis in the regional quarterfinals next Monday or Tuesday. In bi-district play, Rouse beat Tomball Memorial, 59-39, and Ennis downed College Station, 74-50.
The Tem-Cats (27-5) will take the court as a solid favorite over the Lady Eagles (24-9). Temple is riding a 10-game victory streak and ran a 12-0 table in 18-5A. It has not lost since falling to Liberty, 42-37, in the Sandra Meadows Classic in Duncanville where it also lost to Lake Charles (La.) Barbe, 51-47. The Tem-Cats other losses were to Irving MacArthur, 60-44; Liberty Hill, 74-50, and Coverse Judson, 65-48.
In district and bi-district action, Temple’s average victory margin is 29.8 points a game. They are led by a veteran group — senior guard Chadricka Pickett, 6-1 senior twins Keziah and Jhakya Dillworth and 6-0 senior post Tri’Quirria Roe, who had 18 points in the victroy over Jacksonville.
Coach Tamarah Sanders’ Tem-Cats prefer to utilize a full- or half-court pressure press on defense, feeding their run-and-shoot offense with turnovers by the opposition.
Again, being able to handle the opponent’s defensive pressure, rebound well and make their shots — both inside and out — will be keys to whether or not coach Rhonda Farney’s Lady Eagles can pull off the upset.
The Lady Eagles haven’s been slouches on defense themselves. Since returning from their holiday trip to Louisiana, Georgetown has held 10 of its 11 opponents to 36 or fewer points. Four times that total was 26 or less. That defense and an improving offense has enable GHS to win nine of its last 10 starts.
For the season, the Lady Eagles are averaging 43.9 points a game.
On Monday, performing in one of their favorite playoff venues, the Lady Eagles waisted little time to jump on Huntsville, going up 17-2 in the first five minutes and 45 seconds. They took a 26-9 lead into the dressing facility at halftime with a last-second long 3-pointer by junior Jaelyn Knight extending the lead from 14 to 17 points.
At the start of the third quarter, Huntsville came out stronger, but two 3-pointers by sophomore Kylie Ethridge in a span off 1:17 took the fire out of any throught of a Huntsville comeback. Georgetown led 41-19 after three gquarters and the margin never dropped lower than 20 points in the fourth period.
“It started during warmups,” senior tri-captain Josie Weirich said. “We were hitting our shots and building our confidence. It carried over into the game and we built on it. That’s what we did.”
Farney, who was winning the 1,110th game of her career, said, “I was so proud of the girls. Josie got us started (with two 3-pointers in the first two minutes), Jaelyn made that big three-pointer just before the half, Kylie made two big threes to get us going again in the third quarter, our guards did a good job with their press and Jade (6-0 senior Smith) played well. Also, (6-0 sophomore Mackency) Mounton continues to progress as she gets a crash course of playing at this level (because of sophomore McCall Hampton’s season-ending knee injury).”
Knight led the Eagles in both scoring and rebounding with 17 and 12, respectively. Weirich, who hit four treys, was the only Lady Eagle in double-digits with 13 points. The Lady Eagles made 46 percent of their 39 shois from the floor and outrebounded a team that prides itself on its work on the boards by a 38-25 count.
Defensively, Smith had two blocks, Ethridge had four steals and Ethridge, Weirich, junior Ali Isbell, senior Maddie Vickers and junior Samari O’Brien worked well against Huntsville’s press and caused the often-wild-shooting Lady Hornets problems on defense.
GHS NOTEBOOK: Sophomores Kylee Sander and Maya Perry, who were brought up at the end of the season, made their varsity debuts late in Monday’s game. . . . Assistant coach Kevin Spruill arrived in the gym just prior to the start of the game, flying from Cancun, to Austin and being driven to Hearne, after being a groomsman in a friend’s wedding. . . . Thursday’s game originally appeared headed for Lampasas, but the change to Harker Heights was made Tuesday morning.
REGION III-5A BI-DISTRICT
At Hearne, Feb. 12
GEORGETOWN 52, HUNTSVILLE 26
HUNTSVILLE (26) — Tichiree Wooten 0-4 0-2 0, Jaiden Byrd 0-0 1-2 1, Rukiah Utley 0-4 3-7 3, La’Cresia Spivey 0-3 0-0 0, La’Nia Harrell 1-3 0-0 2, Marquera Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Markayla Johnson 1-8 3-4 6, Alyssa Fielder 4-11 0-0 6, Kassidi Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Cathy Aguilar 0-2 0-0 0, Onterria Hunter 0-1 0-0 0, Jeneka Jackson 2-9 2-3 6, Rachel Norris 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 8-46 9-16 26.
GHS (52) — Mercedes Robledo 0-1 0-1 0, Ali Isbell 0-2 0-0 0, Josie Weirich 4-7 1-2 13, Haily Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 0-0 0-0 0, Samari O’Brien 0-2 0-0 0, Kylie Ellsworth 2-7 0-2 6, Maya Perry 1-1 0-0 2, Mackenzy Mouton 1-2 0-1 2, Jaelyn Knight 6-10 4-4 17, Maddie Vickers 1-2 3-4 5, Emili Harris 0-0 1-2 1, Jade Smith 3-5 0-1 6. Totals: 18-39 9-17 52.
Halftime score: GHS, 26-9. 3-point shooting: HHS 1-11 (Wooten 0-2, Jones 0-1, Johnson 1-6, Fielder 0-1, Aguilar 0-1); GHS 7-18 (Robledo 0-1, Isbell 0-1, Weirich 4-7, O’Brien 0-2, Ellsworth 2-5, Knight 1-1, Vickers 0-1). Renounds: HHS 25; GHS 38 (Knight 12, Smith 6, Mouton 4, Vickers 4). Assists: GHS 14 (Ellsworth 3, Knight 3, Isbell 2, Vickers 2, Smith 2. Steals: HHS 6, GHS 12 12 (Ellsworth 4, Vickers 2). Blocls: HHS 1 (Utley); GHS 3 (Smith 2, Knight 1). Turovers: HHS 17, GHS 21. Total fouls: HHS 16, GHS 16. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Huntsville, 23-10; Georgetown, 24-9.
TEMPLE VS. JACKLSONVILLE
At Fairfield, Monday, Feb. 12
TEMPLE 60, JACKSONVILLE 8
TEMPLE (60) — Tri’Quirria Roe 18, Coryn Grovey 11, Wilashia Burleson 7, Chadricka Pickett 5, Taliyah Johnson 5, Keziah Dilworth 4, Breyaunna Sigler 3, Brodneisha Thomas 2, Alexis Lewis 2, Jhakya Dilworth 2, Jalisa Perez 1.
JACKSONVILLE (8) — Priscilla Gallegos 2, Ka’Lessia Anderson 2, Toni Bailey 2, Kelsey Traylor 1, Jekayla Young 1.
Halftime: THS, 38-4. Records: Temple, 26-5; Jacksonville, 15-20.
REGION III-5A PLAYOFFS
Bi-District Results
District 19-5A vs. 20-5A
Cedar Park 51, Willis 42
Georgetown 52, Huntsville 26
Rouse 59, Tomball Memorial 39
Magnolia West 62, Waco Connally 33
District 17-5A vs. District 18-5A
Temple 60, Jacksonville 8
Bryan Rudder 56, Lindale 34
Waco University 65, Nacogdoches 58
Ennis 74, College Station 50
OTHER REGION II BI-DISTRICT SCORES
Top of Bracket
Fort Bend Elkins 76, Houston Madison 52
Crosby 65, Beaumont Central 49
Galveston Ball 65, Houston Waltrip 19
Humble Kingwood Park 79, Lumberton 65
Bottom of Bracket
Beaumont Ozen 51, New Caney 36
Manvel 86, Houston Wisdom 30
Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 79, Livingston 49
Alvin Shadow Creek 52, Houston Northside 19
AREA ROUND PAIRINGS
(In bracket order)
Top of Bracket
Magnolia West vs. Waco University, TBA
Cedar Park vs. Bryan Rudder, TBA
Fort Bend Elkins vs. Crosby, TBA
Galveston Ball vs. Humble Kingwood Park, TBA
Bottom of Bracket
Georgetown vs. Temple, 7 p.m. Thursday, Harker Heights
Ennis vs. Rouse, TBA
Mavel vs. Beaumont Ozen, TBA
Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill vs. Alvin Shadow Creek, TBA
***
GHS LADY EAGLES PLAYOFF ROSTER
No.– Name Cl. Pos. Ht.
10 — Mercedes Robledo So. F 5-8
12 — Graci Harris Fr. G 5-6
13 — Kylee Sander So. G 5-6
14 — Ali Isbell Jr. G 5-6
15 — Josie Weirich Sr. G 5-0
20 — Hailey Smith So. G 5-6
22 — Samari O’Brien Jr. G 5-6
24 — KJylie Ellsworth So. G 5-6
25 — Maya Perry So. G 5-7
30 — Mackenzy Mouton So. P 6-0
32 — Jaelyn Knight Jr. F 5-11
33 — Maddie Vickers Sr. G 5-7
35 — Emili Harris Sr. F 5-11
40 — Hailey Hanson So. G 5-6
42 — Jade Smith Jr. P 6-0
45 — Alicia King Jr. P 6-0
50 — McCall Marshall So. F 5-9
Head coach: Rhonda Farney (Howard Payne).
Assistant coaches: Kellye Richardson (Texas Tech), Kristin Curtis (Tarleton State), Kevin Spruill (Texas State).
Managers: Na’Keia Cook, Rachel Heine, Maddie Jackson, Lexie Mullen, Madison Rincon, Chloe Sutton, Celest Valdez.
Athletic trainers: Vanessa Morales, Chad Hennessey.
Student athletic trainers: Caitlin Garza, Ember Verde.
Athletics Director: Todd York.
TEMPLE TEM-CATS ROSTER
No.–Name Cl. Pos. Ht.
10 — Breyaunna Sigler Jr. G 5-7
11 — Taliyah Johnson Fr. G 5-0
12 — Alejah Hill Sr. F na
13 — Jhakya Dilworth Sr. G/F 6-1
20 — Jalisa Perez Jr. G 5-5
23 — Chadricka Pickett Sr. F 5-9
25 — Alexis Lewis Jr. G na.
30 — Wilashia Burleson So. G/F na.
31 — Keziah Dilworth Sr. G/F 6-1
34 — Brodneisha Thomas Jr. F 5-9
42 — Tri’Quierria Roe Sr. F/C 6-0
44 — Coryn Grovey Jr. F na.
Head coach — Tamarah Sanders.
DISTRICT RECORDS
GEORGETOWN (13-3)
First half (6-2) — Connally (W, 51-41); Hutto (W, 36-27); Elgin (W, 65-17); Bastrop (W, 68-8), East View (W, 44-43 OT); Rouse (L, 41-45); Cedar Park (L, 42-52); Cedar Creek (W, 56-36).
Second half (7-1) — Connall;y (W, 43-31); Hutto (W, 58-19); Elgin (W, 62-25); Bastrop (W, 27-23); East View (W, 52-36); Rouse (W, 48-33); Cedat Park (L, 23-36); Cedar Creek (W, 57-30)
TEMPLE (12-0)
First half (6-0) — Waco University (W, 62-48); College Station A&M Consolidated (W, 61-29); Bryan Rudder (W, 58-34), Waco (W, 61-20); College Station (W, 65-37); Bryan (W, 65-21).
Second half (6-0) — University (W, 70-43); A&M Consolidated (W, 49-33); Rudder (W, 56-33); Waco (W, 71-59); College Station (W, 73-44); Bryan (W, 70-24).
— By GALEN WELLNICKI