It’s been a tough season-opening for the Georgetown Lady Eagles basketball team. They have lost their first two starts to strong Class 6A teams by a total of 30 points — 24 of those coming Monday night in a 52-28 loss to Waco Midway. They had opened the season four days earlier with a 44-38 loss to Round Rock Cedar Ridge in Eagle Gym. “It’s a little disappointing, but both losses were to good 6A teams,” GHS Coach Rhonda Farney said Monday after a game in which the Lady Eagles shooting percentage — 26 percent — was close to the wind-chill reading outside of the gym. “Cedar Ridge was good, but Midway is a much stronger team. “Our varsity is further along than we were this time last year. In fact, our schedule is the toughest maybe ever. November is going to be a brutal month, but I have confidence that we will be competitive and win the games we should as well as get better each game. We believe that if you want to be the best, you have to play the best.”
The Lady Eagles, who also had 22 turnovers in the setback at Midway, will try to regain the winning path Thursday through Saturday at the Eaton Varsity Tournament in Fort Worth. GHS was scheduled to open the 16-team event at 10:30 a.m. Thursday against Fort Worth Haltom, which is picked to finish sixth in seven-team District 3-6A. Depending on how Georgetown fares in its opening game, the Lady Eagles will play either Fort Worth Fossil Ridge or Melissa in the championship or consolation quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. GHS dropped a 43-38 decision to Fossil Ridge in the Eaton first round last year. If GHS makes the semifinals, that game could be at noon Friday with the championship contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Other schools on Georgetown’s side of the bracket are tournament favorite Trophy Club Byron Nelson, Ponder, Birdville and Euless Trinity. Teams on the bottom half of the bracket are Eaton, Cleburne, Fort Worth Benbrook, Odessa Permian,. Justin Northwest, Keller Central, Azle and Denton Braswell (See below for complete first-round pairings).
One of the oddities of Monday night game at Waco was that there was no double-digit scorer on either team with a combined 80 points have been scored. Jadyn Davis led the Pantherettes with nine points and McCall Hampton had seven for GHS. Six different players scored for the Lady Eagles. Host Midway sprinted to a 29-9 lead at the half and advanced the margin out to 43-20 after three periods. The Pantherettes largest lead of the game was 27 points at 47-20 and 51-24 on a 3-pointer by Davis — one of eight success from downtown by Midway. “(Kylee) Sander played well for us for long stretches and (Kylie) Ellsworth stayed in the context of what we wanted to do. MacKenzy (Mouton) and McCall (Hampton) played well at times.” In Friday’s season opener, Cedar Ridge outscored GHS 22-16 in the second half to claim victory after the two teams were tied 22-22 at the half. Hampton led GHS with 15 points and five rebounds. For the game, GHS shot 40 percent from the floor and posted a 22-17 edge on the boards. “We played good defense and out-rebounded Cedar Ridge,” Farney said. They put a great deal of pressure on us, and we actually handled it fairly well. We still had too many turnovers (18), but it is hard to imagine that anyone will put more pressure on us.” “Our freshmen played very well and our JV played without Sam Folsom and Jacqui Spencer,” Farney said. “Also, our three volleyball girls are getting better everyday. We need some time together with this team. Cedar Ridge had an excellent JV.” The Freshman Blue stands 2-0 on the season, while the JV is 0-2. After returning from the Eaton tournament, GHS will play 6A Vista Ridge at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The varsity will be off on the weekend as the JV and Freshman Blue will be competing in the East View Tournament and the Freshman White will be in the Cameron Yoe Tournament. Both the sub-varsity tournaments will be Thursday and Saturday events.
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Dave Cambell’s Texas Basketball magazine, now on newsstands, has picked the Lady Eagles to repeat as champions in District 18-5A. The publication said that East View, Hutto, Manor, Bastrop, Elgin and Bastrop Cedar Creek would follow in that order.
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MONDAY’S NON-DISTRICT VARSITY GAME
At Waco Midway
WACO MIDWAY 52, GEORGETOWN 28
GEORGETOWN (28) — Ella Vicars 0-0 0-0 0. Kylee Sander 2-3 2-2 6, Hailey Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 3-11 0-0 7, Kylie Ellsworth 1-9 1-2 3, Graci Harris 2-4 0-0 5, MacKenzy Mouton 0-1 1-2 1, Mercedes Robledo 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Woodard 2-3 2-2 6, Jordyn Stout 0-1 0-0 0, Nia Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 9-34 7-10 28.
WACO MIDWAY (52) — J’lynn Gus 3-8 0-3 7, Jarhiya Toliver 0-2 0-0 0, Danielle Byers 1-6 1-2 4, Jordyn Davis 3-3 0-0 9, Jakotiah Long 2-7 1-1 5, Alexa Doyle 1-3 0-0 2, Brooke Jones 1-2 0-0 3, Reaghan Ridge 3-8 0-0 8, Samaryah Duncan 2-6 4-8 8, Marlissa Watson 3-7 0-1 6. Totals: 19-52 6-15 52.
Halftime: WM, 29-9. 3-point shooting: GHS 3-14 (Stout 0-1, Sander 1-3, Ellsworth 0-5, Harris 1-3, Hampton 1-2); WM 8-21 (Toliver 0-2, Davis 3-3, Jones 1-1, Gus 1-1, Byers 1-4, Long 0-2, Ridge 2-5, Ducan 0-3). Rebounds: GHS 22 (Hampton 6, Sander 5, Mouton 4, Harris 3); WM 24 (Duncan 6, Watson 4, Davis 4). Assists: GHS 5 (Sander 3, Ellsworth 2). Blocks: GHS 1 (Mouton); WM 1 (Duncan) Steals: GHS 12 (Sander 4, Hampton 3, Ellsworth 2); WM 7 (Ridge 4, Gus 3). Turnovers: GHS 22, WM 8. Total fouls: GHS 17, WM 11. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Georgetown, 0-2, Waco Midway 2-0.
MONDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Waco Midway
(GHS scoring only)
WACO MIDWAY JV 42, GEORGETOWN JV 27 — Jacqui Spencer 5, Brooke White 1, Sam Folsom 2, Tanaya Smith 0, Talaya Roston 2, Morgan Larson 0 Sheila Lee 4, Brielle Maxwell 6, Arayna Hill 2, Lauren Cavanaugh 5. Halftime: WM, 24-11. GHS record: 0-2.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE 45, WACO MIDWAY FRESHMAN 23 — Erica Ramthun 4, Natalie Rivera 0, Avery Lopez 2, Jane Butler 7, Taylor Meyners 8, Amiya Gonzales 4, Madelyne Furr 14, Abby Brent 0, Ainsley Pelzcar 6. Halftime: GHS, 21-14. GHS record: 2-0.
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FRIDAY’S NON-DISTRICT VARSITY GAME
At Eagle Gym
ROUND ROCK CEDAR RIDGE 44, GEORGETOWN 38
CEDAR RIDGE (44) — Ta. Hamilton 3-3 0-0 6, Drake 0-1 0-0 0, Thompson 2-7 0-0 5,Johnson 2-8 0-0 5, DePrisco 1-4 0-0 2, Neimeth 1-4 2-4 4, Alexander 4-9 0-2 10, Tuatagaloa 0-3 0-0 0, Gray 1-2 0-0 3, Stock 0-0 0-2 0, White 3-5 3-6 9. Totals: 17-46 5-14 44.
GEORGETOWN (38) — Ella Vickers 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 0-1 0-0 0, Hailey Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 7-14 1-3 15, Kylie Ellsworth 2-7 23-2 6, Graci Harris 1-3 5-7 8, MacKenzy Mouton 2-4 3-6 7, Lauren Woodard 1-3 0-0 2, Jordyn Stout 0-0 0-0 0, Nia Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-32 11-18 38.
Halftime score: CR, 22, GHS 22. 3-point shooting: CR, 5-24 (Thompson 1-3, Johnson 1-7, DePrisco 0-3, Neimeth 0-2, Alexander 2-4, Tuatagaloa 0-2, Gray 1-2, White 0-1); GHS 1-5 (Ellsworth 0-2, Harris 1-2, Hampton 0-1). Rebounds: CR 17 (Thompson 5); GHS 22 (Hampton 5, Harris 4, Ellsworth 4). Assists: GHS 6 (Ellsworth 2, Harris 2). Blocks: none. Steals: CR 9 (Neimreth 3, Alexander 3); GHS 7 (Sander 2, Ellsworth 23, Harris 2). Turnovers: CR 5; GHS 18. Total fouls: CR 14, GHS 3. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Cedar Ridge, 1-0; Georgetown, 0-1.
FRIDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
CEDAR RIDGE JV 53, GEORGETOWN JV 25 — Natalie Hutchins 0, Brooke White 4, Morgan Larson 2, Talaya Roston 2, Shelia Lee 5, Brielle Maxwell 6, Vyctorya Lehr 1, Aryana Hill 0, Lauren Cavanaugh 5. Halftime: Cedar Ridge, 21-13. GHS record: 0-1.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE 38, CEDAR RIDGE FRESHMAN A 15 — Erica Ramthun 4, Natalie Rivera 2, Avery Lopez 3, Jani Butler 5, Taylor Meyners 2, Amiya Gonzales 7. Madelyne Furr 8, Abby Brent 0, Ainsley Pelzcar 7. Halftime: GHS, 26-4. GHS record: 1-0.
SATURDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAME
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
GRANGER FLEX TEAM 29, GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 19 — Reagan Nelson 9, Payton Humphrey 4, Abby Brent 6, Natalie Floriano 0, Elleiah McKinley 0, Danielle Rodriguez 0, Lourdes Ramos 0, Sarah Herrera 0, Julia Henderson 0.
Halftime: Granger, 9-4. GHS record, 0-1.
Note: Granger team included varsity, JV and freshman players.
Note: Names and statistics provided by Lady Eagles Basketball scorebooks.
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EATON VARSITY TOURNAMENT
At Eaton High School, Fort Worth, Thursday-Saturday
Thursday’s First Round Pairings
(In bracket order)
9 a.m. — Trophy Club Byron Nelson vs. Ponder, Main.
10:30 a.m. — Birdville vs. Euless Trinity, Main.
9 a.m. — Melissa vs. Fossil Creek, auxiliary.
10:30 a.m. — GEORGETOWN vs. Haltom, auxiliary.
Noon — Eaton vs. Cleburne, Main.
1:30 p.m. — Fort Worth Benbrook vs. Odessa Permian, Main.
Noon — Justin Northwest vs. Keller Central, auxiliary.
1:30 p.m. Azle vs. Denton Braswell, auxiliary.
Thursday’s Quarterfinals
4:30 p.m. — Depending on the outcome of its opener, Georgetown will play the winner or loser of the Melissa-Fossil Creek game. The winners bracket with be in the main gym and the consolation bracket in the auxiliary gym.
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41st ANNUAL JACK FROST TOURNAMENT
At Georgetown, Dec. 5-7
GIRLS POOLS
A — Georgetown, Killeen, San Antonio Incarnate Word, Austin Akins.
B — Ponder, Belton, Houston St. Agnes, Liberty Hill.
C — Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Cedar Park, Hardin-Jefferson, Houston Sharpstown.
D — Leander Glenn, The Colony, San Antonio Reagan, Saginaw Boswell.
BOYS POOLS
A — Georgetown, Leander, Magnolia, Houston Christian HomeSchool Ministries.
B — San Antonio Churchill, Austin Vandegrift, Richardson Berkner, San Antonio Harlan.
C — Round Rock McNeil, Kyle Lehman, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, Smithson Valley.
D — Lake Travis, Vista Ridge, Pflugerville Connally, San Antonio Stevens.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
(As of Wednesday, Nov. 13)
G — denotes girls game. B — denotes boys game.-
Thursday’s Games
Eagle Gym
9 a.m. — Flour Bluff vs. Cedar Park (G). 10:30 a.m. — Sharpstown vs. Hardin-Jefferson (G). Noon — GEORGETOWN vs. Akins (G). 1:30 p.m. — Churchill vs. Vandegrift (B). 3 — McNeil vs. Lehman (B). 4:30 p.m. — Belton vs. Ponder (G). 6 — Killeen vs. GEORGETOWN (G). 7:30 p.m. — GEORGETOWN vs. Magnolia (B).
Georgetown auxiliary Gym
9 a.m. — Incarnate Word vs. Killeen (G). 10:30 a.m. — Boswell vs. Reagan (G). Noon — Glenn vs. The Colony (G). 1:30 p.m. — Smithson Valley vs. The Colony (B). 3 p.m. — Harlan vs. Berkner (B). 4:30 p.m. — Leander vs. CHSM (B). 6 — Akins vs. Incarnate Word (G). 7:30 p.m. — Liberty Hill vs. St. Agnes (G).
Robertson Center (Southwestern Univ.)
9 a.m. — St. Agnes vs. Belton (G). 10:30 a.m. — Ponder vs. Liberty Hill (G). Noon — Lake Travis vs. Vista Ridge (B). 1:30 p.m. — Stevens vs. Connally (B). 3 p.m. — The Colony vs. Boswell (G). 4:30 p.m. –Reagan vs. Glenn (G). 6 p.m. — Hardin-Jefferson vs. Flour Bluff (G). 7:30 p.m. — Cedar Park vs. Sharpstown (G).
Friday’s Games
Eagle Gym
9 a.m. — Byron Nelson vs. McNeil (B). 10:30 a.m. — Lehman vs. Smithson Valley (B). Noon — CHSM vs. GEORGETOWN (B). 1:30 p.m. — Ponder vs. St. Agnes (G). 3 p.m. — The Colony vs. Reagan (G). 4:30 p.m. — Churchill vs. Harland (B). 6 p.m. — GEORGETOWN vs. Leander (B). 7:30 p.m. — GEORGETOWN vs. Incarnate Word (G).
Georgetown auxiliary Gym
9 a.m. — Connally vs. Lake Travis (B). 10:30 a.m. — Magnolia vs. Leander (B). Noon — Vista Ridge vs. Stevens (B). 1:30 p.m. — Flour Bluff vs. Sharpstown (G). 3 p.m. — Cedar Park vs. Hardin-Jefferson (G). 4:30 p.m. — Glenn vs. Boswell (G). 6 p.m. — Berkner vs. Vandegrift (B). 7:30 p.m. — Magnolia vs. CHSM (B).
Robertson Center (Southwestern Univ.)
9 a.m. — Berkner vs. Churchill (B). 10:30 a.m. — Vandegrift vs. Harlan. Noon — Akins vs. Killeen (G). 1:30 p.m. — Belton vs. Liberty Hill (G). 3 p.m. –Byron Nelson vs. Lehman (B). 4:30 p.m. — McNeil vs. Smithson Valley (B). 6 p.m. — Lake Travis vs. Stevens (B). 7:30 p.m. — Vista Ridge vs. Connally (B).
Saturday’s Games
Eagle Gym
8 a.m. — C3 vs. D3 (G bronze). 9:30 a.m. — B2 vs. A2 (G silver). 11 a.m. — A2 vs. B2 (B silver). 12:30 p.m. — B1 vs. A1 (G gold). 2 p.m. — A1 vs. B1 (B gold). 3:30 p.m. — Boys bronze championship (semifinal winners). 5 p.m. — Girls gold championship (semifinal winners). 6:30 p.m. — Boys gold championship (semifinal winners).
Georgetown auxiliary Gym
8 a.m. — A3 vs. B3 (G brone). 9:30 a.m. — C2 vs. D2 (G silver). 11 a.m. — C2 vs. D2 (B silver). 12:30 p.m. — C1 vs. D1 (G gold). 2 p.m. — C1 vs. D1 (B gold). 3:30 p.m. — Girls silver championship (semi final winners). 5 p.m. — Girls bronze championship (semifinal winners). 6:30 p.m. — Boys silver championship (semifinal winners).
East View Main Gym
8 a.m. — C3 vs. D3 (B bronze). 9:30 a.m. — C4 vs. D4 (G friends). 11 a.m. — A4 vs. B4 (boys friends).
East View Auxiliary Gym
8 a.m. — A3 vs. B3 (B bronze). 9:30 a.m. — C4 vs. D4 (B friends). 11 a.m. — A4 vs. B4 (G friends).