With three playing dates in eight calendar days remaining before the scheduled end of the District 18-5A basketball chase, the clock probably ticks a little louder every hour for the seventh-ranked Georgetown Lady Eagles and the arch-rival East View Patriots. Two schools located little more than three linear miles apart, are tied for first place with 8-1 records. Each team has one game remaining with an opponent at the bottom of the seven-team scramble and one with a fellow state-playoff contender before their 7:30 p.m. showdown on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Eagle Gym.
Georgetown’s only district loss was to the host Patriots, 46-42, on Jan. 17. East View’s only district divot was a 45-36 loss to Hutto on Friday, Dec. 20. The Patriots’ win over the Lady Eagles was their first in a 15-game series between the two that dates back eight seasons. But at this time, both Rhonda Farney’s Lady Eagles, 23-8 for the season, and Dave Walla’s 24-5 Patriots, must take care of business this Tuesday and Friday for the last-night climax to have its anticipated impact. On Tuesday night, Georgetown, coming off a dominant 73-36 win over Manor at home, travels to Bastrop Cedar Creek (1-9 in 18-5A, 7-26 season). GHS won the first meeting, 71-7, with the second stingiest defensive yield in school history. They return home to play Hutto, currently in fourth place at 4-5. Georgetown won the first meeting in Hippoland, 48-27, on Jan. 14. Hutto hosts Elgin on Tuesday night. East View, coming off a 37-31 loss to 6A Round Rock Cedar Ridge on Friday, tackles third-place Bastrop (6-3, 14-15) at 7 p.m. Tuesday and takes a road trip to sixth-place Elgin (1-8, 4-24) on Friday. The Patriots bested Bastrop, 52-34, and Elgin, 32-21, in the first round.
Georgetown’s No. 7 state ranking is from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, while East View is unranked by that organization. However, both are listed in the Texas Girls Coaches Association top 25 with the Lady Eagles at 12th and the Patriots at 18th. The one-side squashing of Manor added to a night when GHS celebrated its middle school basketball players at Benold and Forbes Middle Schools and the program honored arguably the best player in school history — Erica Kovach, who played for Farney for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, She owns the school career record 2,125 points and was a multi-season all-state selection, leading GHS to the 5A state finals in 2002-2003. “I’m really proud of the way we played,” Farney said. “The kids came out firing on all cylinders (offensively), played great defense and rebounded well. It was nice to play with all our kids. The last few games have shown how good of shape we’re in.” “Came out firing on all cylinders” may have been an understatement. The Lady Eagles led the Lady Mustangs, 22-2, after the first period and held a 41-15 advantage at the half. The lead reached 30 points on a bucket by senior guard Kylee Sander with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter. A basket off a steal by junior guard Graci Harris gave GHS the game-high lead at 39 points (69-30) with 3:01 to go in the game. Georgetown hit on 55.4 percent (31 of 56) from the floor, while holding Manor to 28 percent (14 of 50). The Lady Eagles posted a 42-16 rebounding edge and its defensive pressure forced 25 turnovers. Four Lady Eagles finished in double-figures with Sander scoring a personal season-high 21 points with Harris adding 13. Seniors McCall Hampton and Kylie Ellsworth scored 12 points each. Janiya Davis and Keanna Walker-Gilbert combined for 25 points of Manor’s points.
Georgetown swept the two sub-varsity games with the young Mustang’s. The JV, now 8-0 in district and 16-8 on the season, won 71-18, with 20 points from Megan Herring and 13 from Lauren Cavanaugh. The unbeaten Freshman Blue ran its season and district marks to 24-0 and 7-0, with a 63-11 victory in which Ainsley Pelczar and Madelyne Furr scored 21 and 14 points, respectively. The GHS Freshman White (8-9) dropped a 21-16 decision to the Jarrell JV. Abby Brent scored 10 points to lead the White. “I was really pleased,” Farney said of the program’s younger players. “The JV played all out and shot the ball well. The Blue continued to do well and the White was playing its third game in seven days against either a Jarrell freshman or JV team.” On Tuesday against Cedar Creek, the JV and Freshman Blue teams will be playing at 5:30 p.m. When the Lady Eagles return home Friday to play Hutto, it will be Cancer Warriors Night.
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DISTRICT 18-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
(Through games of Friday, Jan. 31)
Standings: East View*, 8-1; Georgetown**, 8-1; Bastrop***, 7-3; Hutto, 4-5; Manor, 4-6; Elgin, 1-8; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 1-9.
* — denotes East View has a head-to-head tie-breaker win over Georgetown and has clinched a state playoff berth.
** — denotes Georgetown and Bastrop have claimed playoff berths.
Tuesday (Dec. 10) results: Georgetown 45, Bastrop 40; East View 63, Manor 38; Hutto 82, Cedar Creek 29. Bye — Elgin.
Tuesday (Dec. 17) results: Georgetown 65, Elgin 44; East View 51, Cedar Creek 21; Bastrop 63, Manor 60. Bye — Hutto.
Thursday (Dec. 19) results: Bastrop 75, Cedar Creek 25.
Friday (Dec. 20) results: Hutto 45, East View 36; Manor 57, Elgin 37. Bye — Georgetown.
Tuesday (Jan. 7) results: Georgetown 47, Manor 42; Cedar Creek 33, Elgin 29; Bastrop 51, Hutto 46, 7p.m. Bye — East View.
Saturday (Jan. 11) results: Georgetown 71, Cedar Creek 7; East View 52, Bastrop 34; Hutto 59, Elgin 32. Bye — Manor.
Tuesday (Jan. 14) results: Georgetown 48, Hutto 27 ; East View 32, Elgin 21; Manor 80, Cedar Creek 42. Bye — Bastrop.
Friday (Jan. 17) results: East View 46, Georgetown 42; Manor 64, Hutto 48; Bastrop 46, Elgin 44. Bye — Cedar Creek.
(End of first round)
Tuesday (Jan. 21) results: Georgetown 62, Bastrop 43; East View 60, Manor 56 (OT); Hutto 79, Cedar Creek 41. Bye — Elgin.
Friday (Jan. 24) results: Georgetown 42, Elgin 26; East View 52, Cedar Creek 25; Bastrop 56, Manor 42. Bye — Hutto.
Tuesday (Jan. 28) results: East View 49, Hutto 27; Bastrop 67, Cedar Creek 25; Manor 67, Elgin 35. Bye — Georgetown.
Friday’s results: Georgetown 73, Manor 36; Bastrop 68, Hutto 40; Elgin 49, Cedar Creek 23. Bye — East View (lost non-district game to 6A Cedar Ridge, 36-31).
Tuesday’s games: Georgetown at Cedar Creek, 7 p.m.; Bastrop at East View, 7 p.m.; Elgin at Hutto, 7 p.m. Bye — Manor.
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DISTRICT 17-5A AT A GLANCE
(18-5A plays 17-5A in bi-district)
Standings: Cedar Park*, 10-0; Pflugerville Connally*, 8-2; Marble Falls, 6-3; Pflugerville, 4-6; Leander Glenn 3-6; Leander Rouse, 2-7; Pflugerville Weiss, 0-9.
* — clinched playoff berth.
Tuesday (Jan. 24) results: Cedar Park 62, Leander Glenn 35; Pflugerville Connally 50, Pflugerville 48; Marble Falls 39, Rouse 30. Bye — Pflugerville Weiss.
Friday’s results: Pflugerville 59, Leander Glenn 47; Cedar Park 49, Pflugerville Weiss 11; Pflugerville Connally 46, Leander Rouse 36. Bye — Marble Falls.
Tuesday’s games: Marble Falls at Pflugerville Connally, 7 p.m.; Pflugerville at Weiss, 7 p.m.; Leander Rouse at Leander Glenn, 7 p.m. Bye — Cedar Park.
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FRIDAY’S DISTRiCT 18-5A GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 73, MANOR 36
MANOR (36) — Keanna Gilbert-Walker 4-7 3-8 11, Ke’Asia Mathis 3-5 1-7 7, Nicole Esonwune 2-7 0-1 4, Ariah Rivera-Clemente 0-2 0-2 0, Janiya Davis 5-14 2-6 14, Alaysia Prosser 0-5 0-0 0, Ravin Guyton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-50 6-24 36.
GEORGETOWN (73) — Ella Vickers 0-1 1-2 1, Kylee Sander 10-12 0-0 21, Jacqui Spencer 3-6 0-0 6, Hailey Hanson 0-1 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 6-7 0-0 12, Kylie Ellsworth 4-11 3-4 12, Graci Harris 5-11 1-2 13, Mackenzy Mouton 1-2 2-2 4, Megan Herring 1-1 0-0 2, Lauren Woodard 1-1 0-0 2, Jordyn Stout 0-0 0-0 0, Nia Williams 0-3 0-2 0. Totals: 31-56 7-12 73.
Halftime: GHS, 41-15. 3-point shooting: MHS 2-9 (Davis 2-7, Gilbert-Walker 0-2. GHS 4-8 (Sander 1-2, Ellsworth 1-3, Harris 2-3). Assists: GHS 16 (Sander 6, Hampton 4, Harris 3). Blocks: MHS 0. DHS 3 (Sander 1, Hampton 1, Williams 1). Rebounds: MHS 16 (Esonwune 6, Mathis 6); GHS 42 (Hampton 6, Sander 5, Harris 5, Mouton 5, Woodard 5, Williams 5, Ellsworth 4). Steals: MHS 12 (Esonwune 2, Prosser 2); GHS 13 (Hampton 5, Sander 3, Harris 3). Turnovers: MHS 25, GHS 18. Total fouls: MHS 17, GHS 18. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Manor, 4-6 in 18-5A, na.; Georgetown, 8-1 in 18-5A, 23-8.
FRIDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
GEORGETOWN JV 71, MANOR JV 18 — Jacqui Spencer 4, Brooke White 0, Sam Folsom 6, Tanaya Smith 5, Morgan Larson 6, Megan Herring 20, Vyctorya Leht 8, Jordyn Stout 9, Lauren Cavanaugh 13. Halftime: GHS, 50-11. GHS record: 8-0 in 18-5A, 16-8.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE 63, MANOR FRESHMAN 11 — Erica Ramthun 0, Avery Lopez 8, Jane Butler 5, Taylor Meyners 7, Amiya Gonzalez 8, Madelyne Furr 14, Ainsley Pelczar 21. Halftime: GHS, 40-8. GHS record: GHS, 7-0 in 18-5A, 24-0.
JARRELL JV 21, GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 16 — Natalie Floriano 0, Natalie Rivera 0, Danielle Rodriguez 2, Elleigh McKinley 0, Sarah Herrera 4, Abby Brent 10. Halftime: GHS, 12-5. GHS record: 8-9.
MONDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAME
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN WHITE 38, JARRELL FRESHMAN 16 — Floriano 0, Reagan Nelson 9, Rivera 13, Rodriguez 6, McKinley 0, Herrera 0, Brent 10. Halftime: GHS, 17-7. GHS record: 8-8.
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LADY EAGLES REMAINING GAMES
(Current record: 23-8 season, 8-1 district)
District 18-5A Games
Tuesday, Feb. 4 — at Bastrop Cedar Creek 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7 — Hutto, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 — East View, 7:30 p.m.
Note: The East View game is a doubleheader with the boys.
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LADY EAGLES SEASON TO DATE
(Current record: 23-8 season, 8-1 district)
November
8 — Round Rock Cedar Ridge (l) 38-44
11 — at Waco Midway (l) 28-52
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Eaton Varsity Tournament (Ft. Worth)
14 — Ft. Worth Haltom (l) 37-42
14 — Keller Fossil Ridge (w) 51-35
15 — Ponder (w) 49-38
16 — Eaton (w) 54-32
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19 — Vista Ridge (l) 40-55
25 — Victoria East (w) 48-43
26 — at Lorena (w) 35-27
30 — Vandegrift (w) 42-31
December
2 — Kyle Lehman (w) 80-19
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Jack Frost Tournament (Georgetown)
5 — Austin Akins (w) 55-30
5 — Killeen (w) 52-39
6 — S.A. Incarnate Word (w) 52-37
7 — Ponder (w) 49-39
7 — Cedar Park (l) 34-61
***
10 — at Bastrop* (w) 45-40
13 — at Austin Westlake (l) 33-65
17 — Elgin* (w) 65-44
20 — Burnet (w) 70-35
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Flowing Wells Holiday Shootout (Tucson, Az.)
27 — Tucson Desert Christian (w) 79-26
27 — Tucson Empire (w) 65-28
28 — Sahuaro (l) 58-60
28 — Marana (w) 64-38
***
January
7 — at Manor* (w) 47-42
11 — Bastrop Cedar Creek* (w) 71-7
14 — at Hutto* (w) 48-27
17 — at East View* (l) 42-46
21 — Bastrop* (w) 62-43
24 — at Elgin* (w) 42-26
28 — OPEN DATE
31 — Manor* (w) 73-36
* — denotes District 18-5A game.
GHS SEASON LEADERS
Points in a game — Hampton, 22 of her team’s 35 points vs. Lorena.
Rebounds in a game — Hampton, 16 vs. Manor.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Feb. 3)
- Amarillo (29-2). 2. Cedar Park (27-3). 3. Red Oak (22-6) 4. Pearland Shadow Creek (26-4). 5. Mansfield Timberview (23-8). 6. Fort Bend Hightower (27-5). 7. GEORGETOWN (23-8). 8. Royse City (24-5.) 9. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (24-7). 10. Corpus Christi Carroll (26-5). 11. Kerrville Tivy (26-4). 12. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (28-4). 13. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (28-5). 14. Frisco Liberty (21-9). 15. Denton Braswell (23-5). 16. Lubbock Monterey (29-3). 17. Jacksonville (20-9). 18. El Paso Andress (24-4). 19. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (22-8). 20. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (26-7). 21. Lake Dallas (19-5). 22. Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (23-7). 23. San Antonio Harlan (26-5). 24. Magnolia West (26-7). 25. McKinney North (18-7).
Notes: School records provided by TABC.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Feb. 3)
- Amarillo (29-2). 2. Cedar Park (27-3). 3. Lubbock Monterey (29-3). 4. Pearland Shadow Creek (26-4). 5. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (28-4). 6. Red Oak (22-6). 7. Fort Bend Hightower (27-5); 8. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (24-7). 9. Kerrville Tivy (26-4). 10. Fort Worth Arlington Heights (24-3). 11. Mansfield Timberview (23-8). 12. GEORGETOWN (23-8). 13. Denton Braswell (23-5). 14. Royse City (24-5). 15. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (28-7). 16. Dripping Springs (24-7). 17. Corpus Christi Carroll (26-5). 18. Georgetown East View (24-5). 19. Frisco Liberty (21-9). 20. El Paso Andress (24-4). 21. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (26-7). 22. El Paso Eastwood (23-4). 23. Pflugerville Connally (23-10). 24. El Paso El Dorado (22-5). 25. (tie) Magnolia West (26-7), San Antonio Harlan (26-5) and Lake Dallas (19-5).
Notes: School records provided by TGCA.