Georgetown’s Lady Eagles celebrated “Family Night” on Saturday afternoon with two victories in three games with their counterparts from Liberty Hill at Eagle Gym. State-ranked GHS won the varsity engagement, 51-30, and took the JV contest, 49-43, after the Freshman Blue dropped 47-42 overtime decision.The triple-header was originally scheduled for Friday night, but was moved back to Saturday night to accommodate Liberty Hill’s Class 4A Division I state football semifinal with Carthage, which the Panthers won, 44-41, in Cypress.
For Georgetown, the victory over the Lady Panthers improved the Lady Eagles’ season record to 12-7 on their first-round bye from District 18-5A action. All teams in 18-5A have a district open open date on Tuesday for semester exams. The Lady Eagles will resume 18-5A competition at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Eagle Gym as they face Manor, which stands 2-1 in district play and is figured to be a prime contender with Georgetown and East View for the seven-team alignment’s top seeding in the state playoffs. The Lady Mustangs, down to 5A after a short stint in 6A, have beaten Bastrop, 73-48, and Elgin, 59-29, after losing their district opener, 36-34, to East View. Manor is led by the prolific scoring of 5-foot-9 junior guard De’Maya Young, who is averaging 24.1 points a game. Georgetown will enter the Manor game ranked 22nd in 5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
As for the Liberty Hill contests, Georgetown coach Rhonda Farney said, “I was pleased with our ability to break their press and the job we did on the boards (a 44-16 advantage with a 16-8 edge in offensive rebounds). I have a lot of respect for Liberty Hill’s program. Neither team shot especially well. GHS held the Lady Panthers to a 22-percent reading from the floor (eight of 35, including four of 23 beyond the arc), while hitting 31 percent (14 of 44). The Lady Eagles have held their last four opponents, including 6A Austin Westlake, to a combined shooting percentage of 29.8 percent (53 of 178). The opposition during that span has made 19 percent (15 of 79) of its 3-point efforts.
n the varsity contest with Liberty Hill, GHS fell behind 0-5, but took the lead for good 8-7 with 2:58 to go in the opening period on a pair of free throws by senior post Jaelyn Knight. The Lady Eagles led 18-10 after the first quarter, 27-15 at the half and 37-19 at the end of three quarters. A field goal by junior post MacKenzy Mouton put the lead into double digits to stay with a field goal with 1:06 to go in the third quarter. Georgetown’s biggest lead was 48-22 on afield goal by senior guard Samari O’Brien with 2:54 left to play. Nine players shared the point-making load for GHS with Knight scoring 11 and junior guard Kylie Ellsworth adding 10. Junior guard McCall Hampton and senior guard Ali Isbell each scored seven. Knight and Hampton led rebounding with nine and eight, respectively, and senior post Jade Smith added six boards and one blocked shot. Isbell had three of Georgetown’s 14 steals. Liberty Hill, which fell to 7-12 for the year, was led by sophomore Baylee Laird with nine points.
Three players — junior Mercedes Robledo (18 points) and sophomores Lauren Woodard (13) and Megan Herring (11) combined for 42 of the GHS JV’s 49 points in its win over the Liberty Hill JV. A field goal by Natalie Hutchens with 2:36 remaining for the Lady Eagles ahead to stay at 41-40 and they ouscored the Lady Panthers, 8-3, to the buzzer. GHS now stands 15-2 on the year. The Liberty Hill freshman and GHS Freshman Blue were tied 42-42 at the end of regulation, but the first-year Lady Panthers outscored Georgetown, 5-0, in overtime to claim the victory. GHS, losing only its second game in 16 starts, was led by Kristin Lott with nine points and Dylann Jones and Ella Vickers added eight and seven, respectively. “It was a learning experience for a freshman kids on the need to finish strong,” Farney said. Friday’s JV and Freshman Blue games with Manor are set for 4 p.m.
SATURDAY’S NON-DISTRICT GAMES
At Eagle Gym
Varsity
GEORGETOWN 51, LIBERTY HILL 30 LIBERTY HILL (31) — Jessica Holliday 1-2 0-1 3, Ireland Sargent 0-3 0-0 0, Gracie Whitten 0-4 0-0 0, Carissa Garza 0-2 0-0 0, Bree Robinson 0-3 1-2 1, Carissa Vickers 0-0 2-2 2, Kailey Berzon 1-6 4-8 6, Brooke Wright 0-0 2-2 2, Moran Jackson 2-6 0-0 5, Baylee Laird 3-6 1-2 9, Emma Hubbard 1-3 0-0 2, Ashton Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 8-35 (22 percent) 10-17 (58 percent) 31.
GHS (51) — Maya Perry 1-3 1-1 4, Ali Isbell 2-4 2-3 7, Samari O’Brien 4 2-5 0-0 4, Kylie Ellsworth 3-10 3-4 10, Graci Harris 0-5 3-7 3, MacKenzy Mouton 1-2 1-1 3, Jaelyn Knight 3-5 5-6 11, J. Smith 0-4 2-2 2, McCall Hampton 2-4 3-6 7, Alicia King 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 14-44 (31 percent) 20-37 (67 percent) 51.
Halftime: GHS, 27-15. 3-point shooting: LH 4-23 (Holliday 1-2, Sargent 0-2, Whitten 0-3, Garza 0-2, Robinson 0-2, Berzon 0-4, Jackson 1-4, Laird 2-4); GHS 3-12 (Perry 1-2, Isbell 1-3, O’Brien 0-1, Ellsworth 1-4, Harris 0-3). Rebounds: LH 26 (Hubbard 7); GHS 44 (Knight 9, Hampton 8, J. Smith 6, King 4, Mouton 4, O’Brien 4). Offensive rebounds: LH 8, GHS 16. Assists: GHS 5 (Five players with one each). Steals: LH 6, GHS 14 (Isbell 3, O’Brien 2, Ellsworth 2, Harris 2). Blocks: LH 2, GHS 1 (O’Brien). Turnovers: LH 23, GHS 16. Total fouls: LH 23, GHS 18. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Liberty Hill, 7-12; Georgetown, 12-7.
Sub-Varsity Games
(GHS scoring only)
GHS JV 49, LIBERTY HILL JV 43 — Jordan Stout 3, Bailey Miller 0, Hailey Hanson 0, Reece Johnson 0, Grace Kearney 0, Natalie Hutchens 0, McKenna Jansen 0, Vytoria Lehr 4, Mercedes Robledo 18, Megan Henning 11, Lauren Woodard 13, Maddie LaCour 0. Halftime: LH, 23-19. GHS record: 15-2.
LIBERTY HILL FRESHMAN 47, GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 42 (OT) — Samantha Folsom 1, Jacqui Spencer 6, Ella Vickers 7, Kristin Lott 9, Morgan Larson 0, Lauren Cavanaugh 6, Sheila Lee 2, Brielle 2, Anigain Rutledge 0, Baylie Foster 1, Dylann Jones 8. Halftime: GHS, 23-21. Regulation: 42-42. GHS record: 14-2. Note: Statistics and names provided by Lady Eagles Basketball.
UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULE
Single Games
Tuesday, Dec. 18 — Open date. Friday, Dec. 21 — Manor (18-5A), 5:30 p.m.
State Farm Classic
At Riverdale High School, Nashville, Tenn. (Showcase Format)
Thursday, Dec. 27 — Dickson County, 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 — Bearden, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 — Houston, 4:30 p.m.
DISTRICT 18-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
Standings
East View, 3-0; Georgetown, 2-0; Manor, 2-1; Hutto, 1-1; Bastrop, 1-2; Elgin, 0-2; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 0-3.
Friday’s results: East View 48, Hutto, 46; Manor 59, Elgin 29; Bastrop 78, Cedar Creek 31. Bye — Georgetown.
Tuesday’s games: District open date.
Thursday (Dec. 20) game: Cedar Creek at Elgin, 7 p.m.
Friday’s (Dec. 21) games: Manor at Georgetown, 5:30 p.m.; Hutto at Bastrop, 7 p.m. Bye– East View.
District Point Differential
Georgetown. 123-77; East View, 139-93; Hutto, 116-75; Manor, 167-114; Elgin, 60-110; Bastrop, 172-176; Cedar Creek, 70-202.
COMPLETE DISTRICT 18-5A SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, Dec. 4 — Georgetown 72, Bastrop 46; East View 37, Manor 35; Hutto 70, Bastrop Cedar Creek 27. Bye — Elgin.
Tuesday, Dec. 11 — Georgetown 51, Elgin 31; East View 54, Cedar Creek 12; Manor 73, Bastrop 48. Bye — Hutto.
Friday, Dec. 14 — East View 48, Hutto 46; Manor 59, Elgin 29; Bastrop 78. Cedar Creek 31. Bye — Georgetown.
Thursday/Friday, Dec. 20/21 — Manor at Georgetown, Hutto at Bastrop, Cedar Creek at Elgin. Bye — East View.
Friday, Jan. 4 — Bastrop at East View, Georgetown at Cedar Creek, Elgin at Hutto. Bye — Manor.
Tuesday, Jan. 8 — Cedar Creek at Manor, East View at Elgin, Hutto at Georgetown. Bye — Bastrop.
Friday, Jan. 11 — Elgin at Bastrop, Manor at Hutto, East View at Georgetown, Bye — Cedar Creek.
SECOND ROUND
Tuesday, Jan. 15 — Cedar Creek at Hutto, Georgetown at Bastrop, Manor at East View. Bye — Elgin.
Friday, Jan. 18 — Elgin at Georgetown, East View at Cedar Creek, Bastrop at Manor. Bye — Hutto.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 — Hutto at East View, Manor at Elgin, Cedar Creek at Bastrop. Bye — Georgetown.
Friday, Jan. 25 — Georgetown at Manor, Bastrop at Hutto, Elgin at Cedar Creek. Bye — East View.
Tuesday, Jan. 29 — East View at Bastrop, Cedar Creek at Georgetown, Hutto at Elgin. Bye — Manor.
Friday, March 1 — Manor at Cedar Creek, Elgin at East View, Georgetown at Hutto. Bye — Bastrop.
Tuesday, March 5 — Bastrop at Elgin, Hutto at Manor, Georgetown at East View. Bye — Cedar Creek.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A TOP 25
(Released Monday, Dec. 17)
1. Fort Bend Hightower (19-0). 2. Mansfield Timberview (17-1). 3. Amarillo. 4. Manvel. 5. Kerrville Tivy. 6. San Antonio Veterans Memorial. 7. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. 8. Cedar Park. 9. Birdville. 10. Waller. 11. Royse City. 12. Austin Crockett. 13. Saginaw Boswell. 14. Crowley. 15. Mansfield Legacy. 16. Frisco Lone Star. 17. College Station. 18. Lubbock Cooper. 19. Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway. 20. Richmond Foster. 21. Pflugerville. 22. Georgetown. 23. Red Oak. 24. Midlothian. 25. Frisco Liberty.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A TOP 20
(Released late Monday, Dec. 10)
1. Fort Bend Hightower. 2. Mansfield Timberview. 3. San Antonio Veterans Memorial. 4. Amarillo. 5. Manvel. 6. Kerrville Tivy. 7. Cedar Park. 8. Birdville. 9. Royse City. 10. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. 11. Saginaw Boswell. 12. Waller. 13. Pflugerville. 14. Lubbock Cooper. 15. Richmond Foster. 16. Mansfield Legacy. 17. Austin Crockett. 18. Midlothian. 19. GEORGETOWN. 20. Crowley. Honorable mention: Frisco Lone Star, College Station, Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway, Frisco Liberty, Cleburne and The Colony.