Success in athletics often comes down to the survival of the fittest with on-court intelligence and discipline figuring heavily in the outcome at crucial points in the contest. And so it was in the closing minutes of 14th-ranked Georgetown’s 35-34 victory over Manor in District 18-5A action in the Lady Mustangs’ sparkling new gym. Friday’s come-from-behind effort lifted the Lady Eagles to 9-0 in district play and 19-10 on the season. Three factors played heavily in the Lady Eagles’ victory — a 3-pointer by sophomore guard  Graci Harris that cut a four-point Manor led to one with 2:52 to go in the game, two back-to-back technical fouls on Lady Mustangs’ junior De’maya Young in the final minute and an 11-point fourth period by Georgetown junior guard Kylie Ellsworth.The victory put coach Rhonda Farney’s Lady Eagles into a position where a win Tuesday on Senior Night can clinch no worse than a tie for the 18-5A championship. Georgetown’s final home game will pair it against last place Bastrop Cedar Creek (0-10 in district) at 7 p.m. in Eagle Gym.

  

If GHS prevails against Cedar Creek and East View (7-2) fails its road test Tuesday at Bastrop (3-7), the Lady Eagles would clinch the outright title and the district’s No. 1 seeding in the Class 5A state playoffs with two games remaining on the regular-season schedule. Georgetown bested their Cedar Creek namesakes, 64-21, in their first meeting. The Patriots beat Bastrop, 35-25, in their opening-round game. Georgetown will close out the district race with a pair of potentially rough road assignments — Hutto on Friday and East View on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

In Friday’s contest, Young, the game’s leading scorer with 15 points, was ejected with 46 seconds remaining when assessed with a delay of game/taunting technical and then drawing a second technical for an inappropriate response to a game official.  Ellsworth made three of four free throws on the technicals, making the score 32-30 in Georgetown’s favor. With 27.9 seconds remaining, Harris added another free throw to make it 33-30. However, Manor’s Debra’ann Baynard made a basket to cut the GHS lead to 33-32. Ellsworth then kicked the lead back to three points with a pair of free throws. Another bucket by Baynard in the closing seconds concluded the scoring. “We played really well in the last two minutes,” Farney said of a victory that put her in reach of her 30th consecutive 20-win season at Georgetown. “Graci’s 3-pointer was as big play for us and we shot our free throws well in the fourth quarter (eight of 10). Kylee Sander also did good things for us.” Coach Farney, said, “Kylie Ellsworth was clutch for us in the fourth quarter.”

  

In a game that neither team led by more than nine points — GHS was up 14-5 on a basket by junior post MacKenzy Mouton with 5:20 to go in the second quarter — the score was 18-14 in favor of the Lady Eagles at the half. It was deadlocked 20-20 after three. Manor outscored GHS, 12-4, over a span that stretched from 6:29 in the third until Harris’ scored her trey that pulled Georgetown within one point. Knight was the No. 2 scorer for GHS with nine points, while Harris and Mouton  added seven and six, respectively. The Lady Eagles outrebounded the Lady Mustangs, 26-17, with senior Samari O’Brien pulling down seven and junior post McCall Hampton grabbing five. Hampton and O’Brien each had four steals. Neither team scorched the nets. GHS shot 32 percent (12 of 37 with only two successes in 13 beyond the arch) and Manor hit 27 percent (13 of 47 with no connections from 3-point range). The Lady Eagles will be honoring six seniors Tuesday night — Knight, O’Brien, guard Ali Isbell, post Jade Smith, post Alicia King and manager Chloe Sutton.

 

Georgetown dominated both sub-varsity games, improving to 9-0 in both District 18-5A competitions. The JV prevailed 64-33 and the Freshman Blue won 82-30. Megan Herring and Mercedes Robledo led the JV with 22 and 12 points, respectively. In the Freshman Blue contest, Kristin Lott scored 22 and Dylann Jones added 20. Lauren Cavanaugh also had 12 for the Lady Eagles. Tuesday’s JV and Freshman Blue games with Cedar Creek are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. starts.

 

FRIDAY’S DISTRICT 18-5A GAMES

At Manor Senior High School

Varsity

GHS (35) — Maya Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 0-4 0-0 0, Ali Isbell 0-1 0-3 0, Hailey Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Samari O’Brien 0-3 0-0 0, Kylie Ellsworth 2-4 7-8 11, Graci Harris 2-5 1-3 7, MacKenzy Mouton 3-6 0-0 6, Jaelyn Knight 4-7 1-2 9, Jade Smith 0-2 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 12-37 (32 percent) 9-16 (56 percent) 35.

 

MANOR (34) –Kenna Gilbert-Walker 2-7 1-1 5, Daisha Horsby 4-6 0-2 8, Debra’ann Baynard 2-8 0-0 4, De’mya Young 5-19 5-8 15, Regina Duke 0-7 0-0 0, Alaysia Prosser 0-1 0-0 0, Ravin Guyton 0-0 0-2 0, Cierra Beachum 0-1 2-2 2. Totals: 13-47 (27 percent) 8-15 (5e percent).

 

Halftime score: GHS, 18-14. 3-point shooting: GHS, 2-13 (Sander 0-3, Isbell 0-1, Smith 0-1, O’Brien 0-3, Ellsworth 0-1, Harris 2-4); MHS, 0-12 (Gilbert-Walker 0-1, Batnard 0-1, Young 0-4, Duke 0-5, Prosser 0-1). Rebounds: GHS 30/7 offensive (O’Brien 7, Hampton 5, Mouton 4, Knight 4, Ellsworth 3); MHS 19/4 offensive (Young 7, Hornsby 5). Assists: GHS 4 (four players with one each). Steals: GHS 27 (Hampton 4, O’Brien 4, Knight 2, Mouton 2); MHS 12 (Gilbert-Walker 5). Blocks: GHS 3 (Perry 1, J. Smith 1, Hampton 1). Turovers: GHS 25, MHS 17. Total fouls: GHS 20, MHS 17. Fouled out: GHS, O’Brien (:46, fourth); MHS, Young (:46, fourth). Technical fouls: MHS, Young 2.  Ejections: MHS, Young (:46, fourth). Records: Georgetown, 9-0 in 18-5A, 19-10; Manor, 6-4 in 18-5A, 14-12.

 

Sub-Varsity Games

(GHS scoring only)

GHS JV 64, MANOR JV 33 — Jordan Stout 0, Bailey Miller 6, Hailey Hanson 2, Reece Johnson 4, Grace Kearney 0, Natalie Hutchins 0, McKenna Jansen 4, Vyctorya Lehr 6, Mercedes Robledo 12, Megan Herring 22, Lauren Woodard 8, Maddie LaCour 0.  Halftime: GHS, 37-9. GHS record: 9-0 in 18-5A, 22-2.

 

GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 82, MANOR FRESHMAN 30  — Sam Folsom 2, Jacqui Spencer 2, Ella Vickers 0, Kristin Lott 22, Lauren Cavanaugh 12, Sheila Lee 8, Brielle Maxwell 8, Bailey Foster 2, Dylann Jones 20, Morgan Larson 3, Abigail Rutledge 3. Halftime: GHS, 39-14. GHS record: 9-0 in 18-5A, 21-2.

UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULE

Single Games

Tuesday, Jan. 29 — Bastrop Cedar Creek (18-5A), 7 p.m.   Friday, Feb. 1 — Georgetown at Hutto (18-5A), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 — Georgetown at East View (18-5A), 7:30 p.m.,  

 

DISTRICT 18-5A RACE AT A GLANCE

(Through Friday, Jan. 25)

Standings

x-Georgetown, 9-0; x-East View, 7-2; x-Hutto, 6-3; x-Manor, 6-4; Bastrop, 3-7; Elgin, 2-7;  Bastrop Cedar Creek, 0-10.

 

x-clinched playoff berth.

Friday’s results — Georgetown 35, Manor 34; Hutto 63, Bastrop 51; Elgin 60, Bastrop Cedar Creek 23. Bye — East View.

 

Tuesday’s games — Bastrop Cedar Creek at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Bastrop, 7 p.m.; Hutto at Elgin, 7 p.m. Bye — Manor.

 

District Point Differential

Georgetown. 490-288; East View, 387-293; Hutto, 530-450; Manor, 528-402; Elgin, 337-410; Bastrop, 475-502; Cedar Creek,  258-618.

 

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 — Georgetown 53, Manor 40; Hutto 72, Bastrop 64; Elgin 53, Cedar Creek 30. Bye — East View.

 

Friday, Jan. 4 — Georgetown 64, Cedar Creek 21;  East View 35, Bastrop 25; Hutto 72, Elgin 47. Bye — Manor.

  

Tuesday, Jan. 8 — Manor 77, Cedar Creek 27; East View 37, Elgin 32; Georgetown 63, Hutto 28. Bye — Bastrop.

  

Friday, Jan. 11 — Bastrop 42, Elgin 36; Hutto 78, Manor 76; Georgetown 38, East View 33. Bye — Cedar Creek.

 

SECOND ROUND

 

Tuesday, Jan. 15 — Hutto 58, Cedar Creek 35; Georgetown 57, Bastrop 30; Manor 41, East View 34. Bye — Elgin.

 

Friday, Jan. 18 — Georgetown 57, Elgin 25; East View 60, Cedar Creek 21;  Manor 54, Bastrop 39. Bye — Hutto.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 22 — East View 49, Hutto 43; Manor 39, Elgin 22;  Bastrop 54, Cedar Creek 31. Bye — Georgetown.

  

Friday, Jan. 25 — Georgetown 35, Manor 34; Hutto 63, Bastrop 51; Elgin 60, Cedar Creek 23. 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 RANKINGS

(Released Monday, Jan. 28)

(Records provided by TABC)

  1. Mansfield Timberview (31-1). 2. Amarillo (27-4). 3. Kerrville Tivy (29-1). 4. Manvel (30-3). 5. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (25-5). 6. Fort Bend Hightower (31-2). 7. Cedar Park (27-3). 8. Corpus Christi Memorial (27-4). 9. Frisco Lone Star (22-7). 10. College Station (30-2). 11. Crowley (23-8). 12. Lubbock Cooper (24-4). 13. Royse City (28-3). 14. GEORGETOWN (19-10). 15. Pflugerville (22-9). 16. Frisco Liberty (23-10). 17. Austin Crockett (28-5). 18. Richmond Foster (28-5). 19. Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (24-4). 20. Birdville (20-7). 21. Saginaw Boswell (27-5). 22. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (22-5). 23. Lufkin (25-5) 24. Mansfield Legacy (23-7). 25. Dallas South Oak Cliff (19-9).

 

TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION

CLASS 5A RANKINGS

(Released Monday, Jan. 28)

  1. Mansfield Timberview. 2. Amarillo. 3. Kerrville Tivy. 4. Cedar Park. 5. College Station. 6. Lubbock Cooper. 7. El Paso Eastwood. 8. Fort Bend Hightower. 9. Royse City. 10. Georgetown. 11. Manvell. 12. San Antonio Veterans Memorial. 13. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. 14. Pflugerville. 14. El Paso Andress. 16. Frisco Lone Star. 17. Dripping Springs. 18. Mansfield Legacy. 19. Huntsville. 20. Crowley. 21. Richmond Foster. 22. Frisco Liberty. 23. Saginaw Boswell. 24. Austin Crockett. 25. (tie) Birdville, Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff and Lufkin.