For only the second time in six seasons, the Georgetown Lady Eagles polished off Class 6A Waco Midway Pantherettes in a traditional battle that often serves as a season opener for the two Interstate 35 rivals. On Wednesday night before an enthusiastic crowd at Eagle Gym in which GHS got off to a hot start and rolled to a 45-27 victory. Coach Rhonda Farney’s state-ranked 5A Lady Eagles, jumped to an 11-0 advantage in the first 4 1/2 minutes and expanded the lead to 26-9 at the half.
Things played out much closer in the second half with Georgetown outscoring Midway, 19-18. The Pantherettes only major highlight in the contest was a run of 10 consecutive points in the closing minutes of the third period and first three minutes of the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to 38-25. GHS quickly restored order with a seven-point run of its own to jack the score to 45-25. The Lady Eagles’ largest edge of the night was 23 points, 38-15, just prior to the Midway run. Farney, who saw her team enter the season ranked 23rd in 5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and 10th by the Texas Girls Coaches Association, seemed pleased with many aspects of the performance.
“We got off to a strong start, but we had some of the momentum slip away as the game went on,” she said. “(Senior guard) Graci Harris got off to a hot start (scoring nine of her game-high 13 points on 3-point shots in the first quarter). Our kids coming back from cross country seemed to slow going up and down the floor as the game went along. “We still have a lot of work to do.” In addition to Wednesday’s win, it was only the second time GHS has beaten Midway since 2014. The other time was a 60-54 victory in 2018 — also at Eagle Gym.
Actually, Wednesday’s contest was not scheduled to be Georgetown’s season opener, but a “non-Covid” situation last Saturday with Round Rock Cedar Ridge forced cancellation of that game. The Lady Eagles will take to the court for the second time in regular season play at 1 p.m. Saturday when they travel to 6A Austin Westwood, which has won both of its starts this season — Killeen, 47-29, and Pflugerville Connally, 43-27. The Lady Warriors are unranked and picked to finish fifth in 25-6A by Dave Campbell’s Texas Basketball magazine.
In the win over Midway, Georgetown did not allow a double-digit scorer and held the Pantherettes to 17 percent shooting from the floor (8 successes in 45 attempts). The Lady Eagles spread the playing time around with Farney substituting freely with all 10 performers on the primary varsity roster taking the floor in several shifts and individual substitutions. GHS shot 38 percent from the floor (16 of 42) and claimed a 36-25 edge on the boards with 6-1 junior Sheila Lee grabbing 12. Georgetown also received three blocks from 6-4 junior Nia Williams. However, the Lady Eagles durned the ball over 25 times as compared to the Pantherettes’ 17. Ella Vickers, a 5-5 junior guard, supported Harris scoring with nine points as nine of Georgetown’s 10 players finished in the scoring column.
It also was a good night for the Georgetown sub-varsity teams as the JV improved to 2-0 with a 60-25 win with two players finishing in double-digits — Brooke White, 13, and Taylor Meyners, 10 — as all nine players scored. Natalie Rivera and Erica Ramthun added nine points each. The Freshman Blue evened its record at 1-1 with a 40-14 win in which Lucy Waring scored 21 points. “I was pleased with the sub-varsity kids,” Farney said. At Westwood Saturday, the JV and Freshman Blue will play at 11:30 a.m. The Freshman White will entertain Lake Belton at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
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WEDNESDAY’S VARSITY NON-DISTRICT GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 45, WACO MIDWAY 27
WM (27) — Madison Gloff 1-3 0-0 3, Aziyah Oliver 1-7 0-0 2, I’Yanah Williams 0-2 3-6 3, Jadyn Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Mariah Dunn 1-10 6-8 8, Gracie Coleman 0-3 1-2 1, Brooke Jones 2-10 0-0 4, Lauren Meade 0-0 0-0 0. Madison Watson 3-7 0-2 6. Totals: 8-45 (17 percent) 10-18 (55 percent) 27.
GHS (45) — Ella Vickers 3-4 2-4 9, Niah Williams 2-5 0-0 4, Jacqui Spencer 0-4 3-4 3, Sam Folsom 1-3 1-2 3, Morgan Lawson 1-4 0-0 2, Graci Harris 4-7 2-2 13, Megan Harring 0-1 0-0 0, Jordyn Stout 1-7 0-0 3, Lauren Woodard 3-5 0-1 6, Sheila Lee 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 16-42 (38 percent) 8-14 (57 percent) 45.
Halftime score: GHS, 26-9. 3-point shooting: WM, 1-12 (Gloff 1); GHS, 5-18 (Harris 3-6, Vickers 1-2, Stout 1-7, Spencer 0-2, Folsom 0-1). Assists: GHS 6 (Harris 2, Spencer 2). Blocks: WM, 2; GHS 5 (Williams 3, Herring 1, Folsom 1). Rebounds: WM 25, 10 offense (Dunn 11, Watson 9); GHS 36, 12 offense (Lee 12, Stout 4, Vickers 4, Spencer 3, Herring 3). Steals: WM 14 (Watson 6); GHS 14 (Spencer 4). Turnovers: WM 17, GHS 25. Total fouls: WM 17, GHS 16. Fouled out: WM, Watson (4:39, fourth). technical fouls: none. Season records: WM, 0-1; GHS, 1-0.
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WEDNESDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
Junior Varsity
GEORGETOWN 60, WACO MIDWAY 25
GHS (60) — Natalie Rivera 3 0-0 9. Erica Ramthun 3 2-2 9, Brooke White 5 0-0 13, Avery Lopez 1 0-0 2, Taylor Meyners 4 2-2 10, Madelyne Furr 1 1-2 3, Amiya Gonzales 3 0-0 6, Jane Butler 1 0-0 2, Abby Brent 3 0-1 6. Totals: 24 5-7 60.
Three-point shots made: Rivera 3, White 3, Ramthun 1.
Halftime score: GHS, 31-11.
GHS season record: 2-0.
Freshman A
GEORGETOWN BLUE 40, WACO MIDWAY 14
GHS (40) — Bella Flowers 0 0-0 0, Caroline Rutledge 3 1-2 7, Lexi Hatch 0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Sanchez 0-0-0 0, Lucy Waring 10 1-1 21, Ava Linyard 1 3-6 5, Aspen Mayo 3 1-2. Totals: 17 6-12 40.
Three-point shots made: none.
Halftime score: GHS, 17-9.
GHS season record: 1-1.
TUESDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAME
Freshman B
At Jarrell
(GHS scoring only)
JARRELL 35, GEORGETOWN WHITE 17
GHS (17) — Ashley Valverde 0 0-0 0, Itzel Bazaldua 0 0-2 0, Faith Phillips 1 0-0 2, Melodi Valdez 3 0-0 6, Mariah Noel 0 1-2 1, Maddee Sherbrook 3 2-2 8, Raelyn Rodriguez 0 0-2 0. Totals: 7 3-8 17.
Three-point shots made: none.
Halftime score: JHS, 15-6.
GHS season record, 0-2.