After clinching the outright District 18-5A championship with a 50-45 overtime victory over Hutto in the Lady Hippos’ pond on Friday night, the 10th-ranked Georgetown Lady Eagles will face the fourth-place finisher in 17-5A, early next week in the bi-district round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Marble Falls is the probable opponent, but GHS coach Rhonda Farney cautions that the exact opponent or any playoff arrangements will not be confirmed until the completion of play in 17-5A on Tuesday night. But the regular season isn’t quite finished for GHS — and it could be a large BUT — as the Lady Eagles close out the 18-5A campaign at 7:30 p.m.Tuesday when they face second-place East View in the nightcap of a boys/girls doubleheader at Patriotsville. Both the Lady Eagles and Lady Patriots have big goals for the game.
Georgetown, 21-10, on the season, wants to complete a 12-0 run through 18-5, and continue to build momentum for the playoffs. The Lady Eagles are working on an eight-game winning streak since returning from the holiday trip to the State Farm Classic in Tennessee. In addition to preparing for its bi-district clash, East View (9-2, 19-13) wants to make history by ending a 13-game losing streak to Georgetown. The Lady Patriots have not beaten the Lady Eagles since the cross-toll-road rivals began UIL competition during the 2012-2013 season. GHS won the earlier meeting this season, 38-33, at Eagle Gym.
Tuesday’s victory over the Lady Hippos, now 7-4 and tied with Manor for third place, was the Lady Eagles’ second tough close out on the road in three games after using double technical fouls in the closing minute to best Manor’s Lady Mustangs, 35-34, on Jan. 25. “I’m really proud of the kids,” Farney said. “It’s a grind and that’s what we’ve had to do — grind it out. We played especially well at the end of overtime, making our free throws. “I’m really excited about winning the title and going to the playoffs. I feel really good for our kids and what they’ve accomplished.” The game was tied 39-39 at the end of regulation as neither team scored in the final two minutes and 28 seconds with both having chance to claim the lead. However, in the overtime, GHS outscored Hutto, 11-5.
Thirty-one seconds into the extra four-minute period, senior guard Samari O’Brien hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Eagles ahead 42-39. Hutto’s Manuella Shomba made two free throws at the 2:12 mark to cut the lead to 42-41, but a basket by GHS junior McCall Hampton pushed the score to 44-41 before Hutto’s Tamryn Burks countered with a field to cut the lead back to one at 44-43 with 1:11 to play. Over the remainder of the overtime sophomore guard Graci Harris, junior guard Kylie Ellsworth and O’Brien each put down a pair of free throws. Hutto’s final points came on field goal by Dashia Williams with eight seconds remaining. “Samari had the big three that put us ahead, we grabbed clutch rebounds and Graci, Kylie and Samari made our free throws at the end and that made me happy,” Farney said.
Prior to the overtime, GHS led 15-12 after one quarter, 30-24 at the half and 33-31 after the third period as Hutto outscored GHS, 7-3, in the third and had an 8-6 edge in the fourth to deadlock the issue. Georgetown struggled shooting, making only 26 percent from the floor (16 of 60, including only eight of 34 beyond the arc) as the Hippos consistently kept GHS from getting the ball inside. Harris was the only Lady Eagle in double digits with 14 points, while Isbell and Hampton added totals of nine and eight, respectively. Hampton also led Georgetown to a total of 34 with 14 individual grabs. Senior forward Jaelyn Knight and Isbell each claimed six boards.
Hutto made 40 percent of its shots (16 of 40, but only one of eight 3-pointers). Shomba led the Lady Hippos with 15 points and 16 of her team’s 28 rebounds. Burks and Williams also added totals of 12 and 10, respectively, to Hutto scoring total. As for clinching the outright title, senior guard Ali Isbell said, “It feels pretty good. It was a hard fight, but we played well at the end.” Hutto and Manor are scheduled to determined third and fourth place Tuesday when they meet in the Lady Mustangs’ new gym. The probable finish in 17-5A is expected to beat Cedar Park, Pflugerville Rouse and Marble Falls.
Georgetown dominated Hutto in the two sub-varsity games to improve their 18-5A records to 11-0 with one game remaining on their schedules. The JV bolted out of a five-point halftime lead, 26-21, to claim a 61-28 victory and the Freshman Blue, with a running clock in the second half, blitzed the Hutto yearlings, 56-10. If a person were happy to see the Lady Eagles put down eight 3-pointers in the varsity gamed. the would have loved sophomore Jordan Stout’s performance in the JV contest. Despite being in foul trouble in the second half, Stout led the JV victory with 24 points — all on eight treys. She made one in the first period, six — YES SIX — in the second period and one in the fourth. Sophomore forward Vyctorya Lehr added 10 points. The JV played without two starters, including post Lauren Woodard, who was up with the varsity because of the injury to junior MacKenzy Mouton. All nine Freshman Blue players scored with Brielle Maxwell leading with 11 and Ella Vickers adding nine in a game GHS led, 31-8, at the half.
In Freshman action at East View on Monday, the Freshman White will play the EV B at 5:30 p.m. and the Blue will tackle the Patriots A at 7 p.m. The JV game is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at East View.
FRIDAY’S DISTRICT 18-5A GAMES
At Hutto
Varsity
GEORGETOWN 50, HUTTO 45 (OT)
GHS (50) — Maya Perry 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 0-1 0-0 0, Ali Isbell 3-9 0-0 9, Hailey Smith 0-7 0-0 0, Samari O’Brien 1-2 2-2 5, Kylie Ellsworth 2-8 2-2 6, Graci Harris 4-11 2-2 14, Jaelyn Knight 2-9 2-4 6, Jade Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Dylan Jones 0-0 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 3-10 2-4 8. Totals: 16-60 (26 percent) 10-14 (71 percent) 50.
HUTTO (45) — Tamryn Burks 5-12 1-2 12, Catherine Hosek 1-4 3-3 5, Manuella Shomba 4-10 7-12 15, Kayla Peterson 0-0 0-0 0, Akira Kinney 0-0 0-0 0, Dashia Williams 5-12 0-0 10, Shydaii Haynes-Wesley 1-2 1-2 2. Totals: 16-40 (40 percent) 12-19 (63 percent) 45.
Halftime: GHS, 30-24. Regulation: 39-39. 3-point shooting: GHS, 8-34 (Sander 0-1, Isbell 3-8, H. Smith 0-5, O’Brien 1-2, Ellsworth 0-5, Harris 4-11, Knight 0-2); HHS, 1-8 (Burks 1-3, Hosek 0-3, Williams 0-1, Haynes-Wesley 0-1). Rebounds: GHS, 34/11 offensive (Hampton 14, Knight 6, Isbell 6, J. Smith 3); Hutto 28/6 offensive (Shomba 16, Williams 5). Assists: GHS 8 (Isbell 2). Steals: GHS 12 (Hampton 3, Knight 3, Ellsworth 3). Blocks: GHS 4 (J. Smith 2, Knight 1, O’Brien 1). Turnovers: GHS 11. Total fouls: GHS 19, HHS 14. Fouled out: HHS, Hosek (OT, :23). Technical fouls: none. Records: Georgetown, 11-0 in 18-5A, 21-10; Hutto, 7-4 in 18-5A, 17-19.
Sub-Varsity
(GHS scoring only)
GHS JV 61, HUTTO JV 28 — Jordan Stout 24, Bailey Miller 2, Hailey Hanson 4, Reece Johnson 0, Grace Kearney 5, Natalie Hutchens 6, McKenna Jansen 0, Vyctorya Lehr 10, Megan Herring 6, Maddie LaCour 4. Halftime: GHS, 26-21. GHS record: 11-0 in 18-5A, 24-2.
GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 56, HUTTO FRESHMAN 10 — Sam Folsom 2, Jacqui Spencer 6, Ella Vickers 9, Morgan Larson 7, Lauren Cavanaugh 8, Sheila Lee 4, Brielle Maxwell 11, Agabail Rutledge 2, Bailey Foster 7. Halftime score: GHS, 31-8. GHS record: 11-0 in 18-5A, 23-2.
UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULE
Single Games
Tuesday, Feb. 5 — Georgetown at East View (18-5A), 7:30 p.m.,
DISTRICT 18-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
(Through Friday, Feb. 1)
Standings
xy-Georgetown, 11-0; xz-East View, 9-2; x-Hutto, 7-4; x-Manor, 7-4; Bastrop, 3-8; Elgin, 2-9; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 0-12.
x-clinched playoff berth. y-clinched first place, top playoff seeding. z-clinched second place, second playoff seeding.
Friday’s results — Georgetown 50, Hutto 45 (OT); East View 42, Elgin 32; Manor 67, Cedar Creek 39 . Bye — Bastrop.
Tuesday’s games — Georgetown at East View, 7:30 p.m.; Hutto at Manor, 7 p.m.; Bastrop at Elgin, 7 p.m. Bye — Bastrop Cedar Creek.
(End of district schedule)
District Point Differential
Georgetown. 619-348; East View, 471-366; Hutto, 629-551; Manor, 595-441; Elgin, 420-506; Bastrop, 516-544; Cedar Creek, 312-764.
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 42, Bastrop 41; Georgetown 79, Cedar Creek 15; Hutto 54, Elgin 51. Bye — Manor.
Friday, Feb. 1 — Manor 67, Cedar Creek 39; East View 42, Elgin 32; Georgetown 50, Hutto, 45 (OT). Bye — Bastrop.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 — Bastrop at Elgin, Hutto at Manor, Georgetown at East View. Bye — Cedar Creek.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Feb. 4)
(Records provided by TABC)
1. Mansfield Timberview (33-1). 2. Amarillo (29-4). 3. Kerrville Tivy (31-1). 4. Manvel (32-3). 5. Frisco Lone Star (24-7). 6. Fort Bend Hightower (32-2). 7. Cedar Park (28-3). 8. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (26-6). 9. Royse City (30-3). 10. GEORGETOWN (21-10). 11. Frisco Liberty (25-10). 12. Crowley (24-9). 13. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (28-5). 14. College Station (31-3). 15. Pflugerville (23-10).16. Austin Crockett (30-5). 17. Richmond Foster (29-6). 18. Lubbock Cooper (25-5). 19. Birdville (24-7). 20. Saginaw Boswell (29-5). 21. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (26-5). 22. Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (24-5). 23. Lufkin (25-5). 24. Mansfield Legacy (25-7). 25. Dallas South Oak Cliff (20-9).
Teams in Order by Region
REGION III (7) — 1. Manvel. 2. Fort Bend Hightower. 3. Cedar Park. 4. GEORGETOWN. 5. College Station. 6. Pflugerville. 7. Richmond Foster.
REGION I (7)– 1.Mansfield Timberview. 2.Amarillo. 3. Crowley. 4. Lubbock Cooper. 5. Birdville. 6. Saginaw Boswell. 7. Mansfield Legacy.
REGION II (5) –1. Frisco Lone Star. 2. Royse City. 3. Frisco Liberty. 4. Lufkin. 5. Dallas South Oak Cliff.
REGION IV (6) — 1. Kerrville Tivy. 2. San Antonio Veterans Memorial. 3. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. 4. Austin Crockett. 5. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. 6. Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Jan. 29)
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.