Georgetown’s state-ranked Lady Eagles will try to improve their district record to 2-0 at 8 p.m. Friday at Marble Falls against the Lady Mustangs, who stand 1-7 on the season after dropping their 25-5A opener to No. 1-ranked Cedar Park, 53-11. Coach Rhonda Farney’s Lady Eagles, who stand 8-2 on the year, began the district race at home this past Tuesday with a 59-34 win over Leander Glenn. GHS, ranked 11th in 5A by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and 12th in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches listing.
The Lady Eagles will be facing a Marble Falls team that has lost five consecutive games since recording its lone victory — a 54-45 win over 6A Copperas Cove. However, four of the Lady Mustangs’ losses have been by six or fewer points. In addition to losing to the Lady Timberwolves, they have fallen to state-ranked Boerne Champion by 25 and 2A Mason by 20. Georgetown also will be trying to build momentum for Tuesday’s 8 p.m. rivalry game at East View, which downed the Lady Eagles twice last season in the Patriots’ march to the District 18-5A championship. This year’s district schedule, which also mandates freshman games at 5:15 p.m. and JV contests at 6:30 p.m. because of the pandemic health threat, has teams playing five games prior to the Christmas break and nine after schools return in January. Also prior to Santa’s annual visit, the Lady Eagles are scheduled to entertain Leander on Friday, Dec. 18, and visit Leander Rouse on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
One factor in Tuesday’s win over Glenn, which is coached by former GHS assistant Jordan Ramey, that pleased Farney as the Lady Eagles’ ability to maintain their early momentum in games — a problem against both Waco La Vega (a two-point loss) and Belton (a 19-point victory). GHS jumped to a 14-2 lead over the Lady Pirates in the first 6 1/2 minutes and a 13-1 bulge over Belton at the end of the first period but led only 16-13 at the half. After taking their solid early leads, GHS yielded 11 consecutive points to La Vega and a 10-point run to Belton to allow their opponents to regain solid footing. However, against Glenn, Georgetown jumped to a 15-1 edge that still held at 20-5 after the first quarter and 33-16 at the half. The Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Grizzlies, 26-18, in the second half to hold serve and the victory. The lead never fell under 14 in the second half. “I’m proud of our kids,” Farney said. “They did a good job retaining their focus and finishing the game. The Lady Eagles outshot the Lady Grizzlies, 44 percent (22 of 50) to 33 percent (14 of 42), controlled the boards (26-17), and only turned the ball over seven times compared to 22 for Glenn.
Senior point guard Graci Harris led the GHS effort with 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Senior forward Lauren Woodard supported Harris with 10 points. Junior Niah Williams used her 6-4 height to block six shots. “Graci played really well as did all the kids,” Farney said. “Lauren had a crafty performance and Niah and (6-1 junior) Sheila (Lee) did well inside. At one guard position, Jacqui (5-9 junior Spencer) and Ella (5-5 junior Vickers) bring different things to the game when they switch out.” Farney continued to be pleased with the performances of her sub-varsity teams. “They continue to play really well,” She said. “The JV played one of the better opponents it’s faced this season and the Freshman Blue continued to roll. The Freshman White worked hard in a loss to the Jarrell JV.” The JV ran its record to 11-0 with a 48-26 win over Glenn and the Freshman Blue, now 7-1, came close to a shutout with a 39-2 win over the first-year Lady Grizzlies. The Freshman White dropped a 45-23 decision to the Jarrell JV. The White has faced a tough schedule against Freshman A, JV, and flex teams.
Leading only 26-21 at the half, the GHS JV outscored Glenn, 22-5 in the second half. Taylor Meyners and Amiya Gonzales led the Lady Eagles’ with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Brooke White added eight and Madelyne Furr tossed in six points. Katie Youngblood’s Freshman Blue held Glenn scoreless through the first three quarters and most of the fourth before the Lady Grizzlies finally scored a basket with 3:24 remaining in the contest. Caroline Rutledge and Lucy Waring scored 14 points each for the Lady Eagles. In the Freshman White encounter Mariah Noel scored seven points for GHS and Melodi Valdez and Tayler Phillips each added six points.
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TUESDAY’S DISTRICT 25-5A GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 59, LEANDER GLENN 34
GLENN (34) — Mariah Houston 3-7 1-6 7, Londyn Steere 1-10 2-2 4, Kathryn Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Fernanda Herrera 0-0 0-0 0, Angelina Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Ashley Bonneville 6-15 0-0 13, Cindy Foka 0-1 0-0 0, Crystal Jones 2-2 2-2 6, Brooklyn Scott 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 14-42 (33 percent) 5-10 (50 percent) 34.
GHS (59) — Ella Vickers 1-1 2-2 5, Niah Williams 1-4 1-4 3, Jacqui Spencer 3-9 0-0 6, Sam Folsom 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Larson 2-4 0-0 5, Graci Harris 6-17 6-6 18, Megan Herring 1-2 0-0 2, Jordyn Stout 2-4 0-0 6, Lauren Woodard 4-5 2-2 10, Sheila Lee 2-3 0-1 4. Totals: 22-50 (44 percent) 11-15 (73 percent) 59.
Halftime: GHS, 33-16. 3-point shooting: Glenn, 1-16 (Houston 0-1, Steere 0-5, Brown 0-1, Bonneville 1-8, Scott 0-1); GHS, 4-14 (Vickers 1-1, Spencer 0-2, Larson 1-2, Harris 0-5, Stout 2-4). Assists: GHS, 14 (Harris 6, Woodard 3, Spencer 2, Larson 2). Rebounds: Glenn, 17, four offensive (Houston 7); GHS, 26, seven offensive (Harris 7, Larson 5, Williams 4, Lee 3, Woodard 3). Blocks: Glenn, 1 (Jones 1); GHS 7 (Williams 6, Lee 1). Steals: Glenn, 4 (Bonneville 2); GHS 15 (Harris 5, Spencer 4, Woodard 4). Turnovers: Glenn, 22; GHS 7. Total fouls: Glenn 15; GHS 8. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: GHS, Vickers (2:27, second). Records: Glenn, 0-1 in 25-5A, 5-5 season; Georgetown, 1-0 in 25-5A, 8-2 season.
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TUESDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
JUNIOR VARSITY
GEORGETOWN 48, LEANDER GLENN 26
GHS (48) — Natalie Rivera 0 0-0 0, Erica Ramthun 2 0-0 5, Brooke White 3 0-0 8, Avery Lopez 1 0-0 2, Taylor Meyners 6 0-0 12, Madelyne Furr 3 0-0 2 6, Amiya Gonzales 5 0-0 10, Jane Butler 2 0-0 5, Abby Best 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 0-2 48. Halftime: GHS, 26-21. 3-point baskets made: White 2, Butler 1, Ramthun 1.
GHS record: 1-0 in 25-5A, 11-0 season.
FRESHMAN A
GEORGETOWN BLUE 39, LEANDER GLENN 2
GHS (39) — Itzel Bazaldua 1 1-2 3, Bella Flowers 0 0-0 0, Caroline Rutledge 6 1-2 14, Ashlyn Sanchez 2 0-0 4, Lucy Waring 7 0-0 14, Ava Linyard 0 0-0 0, Aspen Mayo 2 0-2 4. Totals: 18 2-8 39. Halftime: GHS, 19-0. 3-point baskets made: Rutledge 1.
GHS record: 1-0 in 25-5A, 7-1 season.
FRESHMAN B
JARRELL JV 45, GEORGETOWN WHITE 23
GHS (23) — Ashley Valverde 0 0-0 0, Faith Phillips 0 0-0 0, Lexi Hatch 0 0-0 0, Melodi Valdez 3 0-0 6, Mariah Noel 3 1-2 7, Maddee Sherbrook 2 0-0 4, Anna Eddy 0 0-0 0, Tayler Phillips 3 0-0 6. Totals: 11 1-2 23.
Halftime: JHS, 14-11.
3-point baskets made: none.
GHS record: 1-5.
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UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
VARSITY
Friday — at Marble Falls, 8 p.m. Tuesday — at East View, 8 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Friday– at Marble Falls, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday — at East View, 6:30 p.m.
FRESHMAN BLUE
Friday — at Marble Falls, 5:15 p.m. Tuesday — at East View, 5:15 p.m.
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DISTRICT 25-5A AT A GLANCE
Standings — Georgetown, 1-0; Cedar Park, 1-0; East View, 1-0; Leander Rouse, 1-0; Leander, 0-1; Leander Glenn, 0-1; Liberty Hill, 0-1; Marble Falls, 0-1.
Tuesday’s results — Georgetown 59, Glenn 34; Cedar Park 53, Marble Falls 11; East View 51, Liberty Hill 49; Rouse 68, Leander 30.
Friday’s games — Georgetown at Marble Falls, 8 p.m.; East View at Glenn, 8 p.m.; Cedar Park at Leander, 8 p.m.; Rouse at Liberty Hill, 8 p.m.
Tuesday’s games (Dec. 15) — Georgetown at East View, 8 p.m.; Liberty Hill at Cedar Park, 8 p.m.; Leander at Marble Falls, 8 p.m.; Glenn at Rouse, 8 p.m.
(Schedule subject to change because of Covid-19 pandemic).