Time for an athletic team can be like sandpaper on a rough piece of wood, it can render pitted and ugly grain into a smooth, splinter-less surface. So it is for the Georgetown Lady Eagles, who are preparing to defend the District 18-5A basketball championship and hopefully earn a 30th consecutive trip to the UIL state playoffs. The season opened with three straight losses before three straight victories in the Eaton Varsity Tournament in Fort Worth evened Georgetown’s record at 3-3 before a loss to 6A power Vista Ridge. GHS bounced back with a homecourt win over Victoria East, 48-43, on Monday and a 35-27 road victory over District 18-4A favorite Lorena on Tuesday to push its record over .500 at 5-4.
Time and steady accomplishment have six or seven games, pending their run in the 41st Jack Frost Tournament, remaining before the Lady Eagles open the 12-game 18-5A campaign with Bastrop on Tuesday, Dec. 10, and a road challenge with 6A power Austin Westlake on Friday, Dec. 13. The Lady Eagles will open that run to the Bastrop-Westlake week at 1:30 p.m. Saturday when they play host to 6A Vandegrift and entertain Kyle Lehman at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. In the pool play of the Jack Frost, GHS will face Austin Akins at noon and Killeen at 6 p.m. on Thursday and San Antonio Incarnate Word at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Georgetown will play either one or two games on Saturday, pending the outcome of pool play and their first game on Saturday. A win is a win, but Farney and her blood pressure probably would prefer a little more consistency from her team. In Monday’s win over Victoria East, GHS had to weather a strong comeback by the Titans at the end of the game and on Tuesday they fell behind 16-10 in the first half before charging to victory with a 22-4 run in the first 12 minutes and 30 seconds of the second half.
In the win over Lorena, senior post/forward McCall Hampton provided 22 of Georgetown’s 35 points.”I’m very disappointed all around,” Farney said of her team’s performance against Victoria East, which pulled within three points at 46-43 with 29 seconds remaining before Hampton iced the win with a basket. The Lady Eagles made only 15 of 43 shots from the floor. They made a couple poor shot selections in the final two minutes, instead of working the clock, and committed 20 turnovers in the game. Georgetown built a 27-18 halftime bulge, but the Titans were able to cut the margin to 40-34 after three quarters. A seven-point fourth quarter by Lallani Wimbish-Gay and a bucket by Azlyn Rodriguez pulled East within striking distance at 46-43. Junior guard Graci Harris led GHS scoring against the Titans (7-3) with 14 points, while Hampton had nine of the Lady Eagles’ 31 rebounds.
As for the Lorena game, Farney said, “I’m glad to get a win. Graci and Kylie (Ellsworth) played well and we were much improved in the post with Lauren (Woodard), McCall (Hampton) and Mackenzy (Mouton). And then add in the fact that we played good defense.” Hampton scored seven of Georgetown’s 10 points in the first half of the win over Lorena’s Leopards with the Lady Eagles’ only other points in the first 16 minutes coming on a 3-pointer by Ellsworth. The 5-9 Hampton also scored 12 points in the 22-point second half streak and Harris chipped in back-to-back 3-pointers during the run. The Lady Eagles defense limited Lorena to just eight successes in 40 shots from the floor and GHS posted a 29-20 edge on the boards.
The Georgetown Freshman Blue improved its season record to 9-0 with a 66-10 win over Victoria West, a 53-20 victory over Lorena and a 4-0 charge to the championship in the East View Tournament. In the freshman event in Patriotland, the first-year Lady Eagles downed Copperas Cove, 60-13, Pflugerville Hendrickson, 52-6; Buda Hays, 41-6; and Vandegrift in the title game, 39-34. Ainsley Pelzsar led GHS with 18 points against Lorena and 16 against Victoria East, while Madelyne Furr added 16 against Lorena. “This team just won’t quit,” Blue coach Katie Youngblood said after her team’s comeback from a 21-10 halftime deficit in the championship contest. “They will step up and do whatever they have to do to win.”
After losing its first four starts, including a disputed 37-35 loss to Copperas Cove in the opening round of the East View event, the GHS JV has captured five straight to improve to 5-4 for the campaign. After the disappointing loss to Cove, GHS rallied to win the consolation title with victories over Del Valle, 46-22; Leander, 39-18; and Pflugerville, 30-29. On Monday, they beat Victoria West, 48-31, and then dominated Lorena, 40-7 on Tuesday. Three-point ace Jordyn Stout led GHS with 14 points against Lorena and 12 in the win over Victoria East. “Our kids were disappointed with the outcome of the Cove game, but responded well,” JV coach Tosha Doherty said. “We are starting to play within our system, and it is rewarding to watch.”
The Freshman White now stands 3-4 on the year after breaking even in four games against small-school JV teams in the Cameron Yoe Tournament and then dropping a 28-25 ball game to the Bartlett JV on Monday. In the Cameron event, GHS beat the host school, 16-9, and Smithville, 22-20, before losing 25-2 to Rockdale and 35-1 to Thorndale. In sub-varsity action Saturday against Vandegrift, the JV and Freshman Blue games are scheduled for noon. Against Lehman on Monday, the JV and Freshman Blue games are set for 5 p.m. The Freshman White is idle both days.
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TUESDAY’S NON-DISTRICT GAME
At Lorena
GEORGETOWN 35, LORENA 27
GEORGETOWN (35) — Ella Vickers 0-1 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 0-1 0-0 0, Hailey Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 10-19 2-4 22, Kylie Ellsworth 2-6 1-3 5, Graci Harris 2-6 0-0 6, MacKenzy Mouton 0-2 0-0 0, Mercedes Robledo 0-1 0-0 0, Lauren Woodard 1-4 0-0 2, Nia Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-40 2-4 35.
LORENA (27) — Tristin Curry 1-2 0-0 3, Corbin Parnell 2-4 1-2 6, Ashlyn Wachtendorf 1-9 1-2 4, Katy Rae Powers 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Burbidge 1-9 1-2 4, Kylie Henderson 0-0 0-0 0, Allison Haberman 0-2 0-0 0, Sara Robertson 2-11 1-3 7, Savannah Hoff 1-3 1-1 3. Totals: 8-40 5-10 27.
Halftime: Lorena, 16-10. 3-point shooting: GHS 3-8 (Vickers 0-1, Ellsworth 1-3, Harris 2-3, Hampton 0-1); LHS 6-26 (Curry 1-2, Parnell 1-1, Wachtendorf 1-6, Burbridge 1-7, Haberman 0-2, Robertson 2-8). Assists: GHS 6 (Ellsworth 5, Hampton 6). Blocks: GHS 2 (Vickers 1, Mouton 1); LHS 1 (Burbidge 1). Rebounds: GHS 29 (Hampton 6, Ellsworth 6, Woodard 5, Harris 3, Williams 3); LHS 20 (Parnell 4, Robertson 3, Hoff 3, Wachtendorf 3). Steals: GHS 8 (Ellsworth 2, Harris 2); LHS 3 (Burbidge 3). Turnovers: GHS 15, LHS 12. Total fouls: GHS 15, LHS 8. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Georgetown, 5-4; Lorena, 4-4.
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MONDAY’S NON-DISTRICT GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 48, VICTORIA EAST 43
VICTORIA EAST (43) — Hannah Tyler 0-2 0-0 0, Giani Wimbish-Gay 2-6 2-5 6, Azlyn Rodriguez 2-5 0-0 4, Renae Mendietta 1-8 0-4 2, Lallani Wimbish-Gay 4-10 3-5 11, Trinity Wallace 3-5 2-2 8, Brandalyn Rice 5-9 2-4 12. Totals: 17-45 9-20 43.
GEORGETOWN (48) — Vickers 0-2 0-1 0, Sander 2-6 2-2 4, Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, Hampton 3-10 2-4 8, Ellsworth 3-9 3-4 9, Harris 3-4 8-12 14, Mouton 2-8 2-2 6, Robledo 1-1 0-0 3, Woodard 1-2 0-0 2, Williams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 17-25 48.
Halftime: GHS, 27-18. 3-point scoring: VE 0-9 (Tyler 0-2, L. Wimbish-Gay 0-1, G. Wimbish-Gay 0-2, Rodriguez 0-2, Mendietta 0-2); GHS 1-5 (Vickers 0-1, Ellsworth 0-2, Robledo 1-1, Hampton 0-1). Assists: GHS 9 (Ellsworth 3, Harris 3). Blocks: VE 3 (G. Wimbish-Gay 1, L. Wimbish-Gay 1, Rice 1); GHS 1 (Sander 1). Rebounds: GHS 31 (Hampton 9, Mouton 7, Ellsworth 5, Williams 3); VE 23 (Rice 7). Steals: VE 13 (G. Wimbish-Gay 6, Tyler 3); GHS 11 (Ellsworth 3, Mouton 3). Turnovers: VE 18, GHS 20. Total fouls: VE 18, GHS 19. Fouled out: VE, Mendieta (fourth, 2:51). Technical fouls: none. Records: Victoria East, 7-3; Georgetown, 4-4.
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TUESDAY’S SUB VARSITY GAMES
(GHS scoring only)
GEORGETOWN JV 40, LORENA JV 7 — Jacqui Spencer 2, Natalie Hutchens 0, Brooke White 3, Tanaya Smith 0, Talaya Roston 0, Morgan Larson 3, Shelia Lee 8, Megan Herring 6, Brielle Maxwell 4, Vyctorya Lehr 0, Aryana Hill 0, Jordyn Stout 14, Lauren Cavanaugh 0. Halftime: GHS, 21-6. GHS record: 5-4.
GHS FRESHMEN BLUE 53, LORENA FRESHMAN 20 — Erica Ramthun 8, Avery Lopez 5, Jane Butler 2, Taylor Meyners 0, Amiya Gonzales 4, Madelyne Furr 16, Ainsley Pelzcar 18. Halftime: GHS, 24-5. GHS record: 9-0.
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MONDAY’S SUB VARSITY GAMES
(GHS scoring only)
GEORGETOWN JV 48, VICTORIA EAST JV 31 — Spencer 8, White 7, Roston 0, Larson 5, Lee 6, Herring 4, Maxwell 5, Lehr 0, Hill 0, Stout 12, Cavanaugh 1. Halftime: GHS, 18-16. GHS record: 4-4.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE 66, VICTORIA EAST FRESHMEN 10 — Ramthun 10, Natalie Rivera 4, Lopez 6, Butler 3, Meyners 2, Gonzales 15, Furr 4, Abby Brent 6, Pelczar 16. Halftime: GHS, 37-1. GHS record: 8-0.
BARTLETT JV 28, GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 25 — Reagan Nelson 4, Natalie Rivera 0, Elleish McKinley 6, Daniella Rodriguez 3, Payton Humphrey 6, Abby Brent 6. Halftime: Bartlett JV, 16-13. GHS record: 3-4.
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WEEKEND SUB-VARSITY TOURNAMENTS
(GHS scoring only)
EAST VIEW TOURNAMENT
Junior Varsity Division
First Round
COPPERAS COVE 37, GEORGETOWN 35 — Spencer 3, White 1, Sam Folsom 2, Roston 0, Larson 2, Lee 3, Herring 14, Maxwell 4, Stout 6, Cavanaugh 0. Halftime: CC, 17-16. GHS record: 0-4.
Consolation Quarterfinals
GEORGETOWN 46, DEL VALLE 22 — Spencer 2, Hutchens 0, White 0, Folsom 2, Smith 0, Roston 4, Larson 2, Lee 7, Herring 12, Maxwell 7, Hill 2, Stout 1, Cavanaugh 7. Halftime: GHS, 21-7. GHS record: 1-4.
Consolation Semifinals
GEORGETOWN 39, LEANDER 18 — Spencer 2, Hutchens 0, White 5, Folsom 2, Smith 2, Roston 0, Larson 2, Lee 9, Herring 9, Maxwell 5, Hill 0, Stout 3, Cavanaugh 0. Halftime: GHS, 14-9. GHS record: 2-4.
Consolation Championship
GEORGETOWN 30, PFLUGERVILLE 29 — Spencer 4, Hutchens 0, White 6, Folsom 0, Roston 0, Larson 2, Lee 4, Herring 10, Maxwell 3, Stout 0, Cavanaugh 1. Halftime: GHS, 14-7. GHS record: 3-4.
Freshman Division
First Round
GEORGETOWN BLUE 60, COPPERAS COVE 13 — Ramthun 2, Lopez 7, Butler 3, Meyners 11, Gonzales 12, Furr 7, Pelczar 18. Halftime: GHS, 29-6. GHS record: 4-0.
Championship Quarterfinals
GEORGETOWN BLUE 52, PFLUGERVILLE HENDRICKSON 6 — Ramthun 0, Lopez 7, Butler 4, Meyners 5, Gonzales 0, Furr 20, Pelczar 16. Halftime: GHS, 30-0. GHS record: 5-0.
Championship Semifinals
GEORGETOWN BLUE 41, BUDA HAYS 6 — Ramthun 3, Lopez 6, Butler 0, Meyners 4, Gonzales 2, Furr 7, Pelczar 19. Halftime: GHS, 16-3. GHS record: 6-0.
Championship Game
GEORGETOWN BLUE 39, VANDEGRIFT 34 — Ramthun 0, Lopez 0, Butler 3, Meyners 5, Gonzales 0, Furr 14, Pelczar 17. Halftime: Vandegrift, 21-10. GHS record: 7-0.
CAMERON YOE TOURNAMENT
(Complete GHS participation unavailable)
First Round
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 16, CAMERON JV 9 — Nelson 2, Rivers 6, Humphrey 2, Brent 6. Halftime: GHS, 6-2. GHS record: 2-1.
Championship Quarterfinals
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 22, SMITHVILLE JV 20 — Nelson 3, Rivera 18, McKinley 0, Rodriguez 0, Humphrey 1, Brent 0, Julia Henderson 0. Halftime: SHS, 14-9. GHS record: 3-1.
Championship Semifinals
ROCKDALE JV 25, GEORGETOWN WHITE FRESHMAN 2 — Nelson 0, Rivera 0, McKinley 0, Rodriguez 0, Humphrey 0, Sarah Herrera 0, Brent 2. Halftime: RHS, 6-2. GHS record: 3-2.
Consolation Game
THORNDALE JV 35, GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 1 — Nelson 1, Rivera 0, McKinley 0, Rodriguez 0, Humphrey 0, Tamos 0, Herrera 0, Brent 0, Henderson 0. Halftime: THS, 17-1. GHS record: 3-3.
Note: Names and statistics provided by Lady Eagle Basketball.
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TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Nov. 25)
(Note: Records provided by TABC)
- Amarillo (8-0). 2. Fort Bend Hightower (11-2). 3. Kerrville Tivy (5-1). 4. Mansfield Timberview (6-3). 5. The Colony (3-1). 6. Alvin Shadow Creek (9-2). 7. Royse City (6-2). 8. Cedar Park (10-2). 9. Mansfield Summit (3-1). 10. Denton Braswell (8-0). 11. Red Oak (3-2). 12. Mansfield Legacy (2-1). 13. Corpus Christi Carroll (6-1).14. Magnolia West (11-1). 15. Ft Worth Chisholm Trail (3-0). 16. Manvel (5-2). 17. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (5-5). 18. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (6-4). 19. Leander Rouse (7-2). 20 Brownsville Veterans Memorial (11-3). 21. Frisco Centennial (8-3). 22. Boerne Champion (5-2). 23 Frisco Lebanon Trial (7-3). 24. Midlothian (5-3). 25. Jacksonville (2-1).
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Tuesday, Nov. 26)
(Note: Records provided by TGCA)
- Amarillo, 8-0; 2. Denton Braswell, 8-0; 3. El Paso Eldorado, 6-0. 4. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill, 12-1. 5. Cedar Park, 10-2. 6. Waller, 8-0. 7. Wichita Falls Rider, 5-0. 8. El Paso Eastwood, 9-1. 9. Georgetown East View, 7-1. 10. El Paso Chapin, 10-2. 11. Magnolia West, 11-2. 12. Fort Bend Hightower, 11-2. 13. San Antonio Harlan, 7-1. 14. Leander Rouse, 6-2. 15 (tie) Alvin Shadow Creek,7-2; Lubbock Monterey, 8-1; El Paso Andress, 8-2; Tyler Lee, 5-1; and Corpus Christi Carroll, 6-1.