All right, students of basketball science, what does Georgetown, ranked seventh in 5A, do when it falls behind Boerne, the No. 5 team in 4A, 11-0 in the initial four minutes and 48 seconds of the game? Monday afternoon’s answer at Eagle Gym: They work their tails off and then make three decisive free throws in the final 2:42 to claim a 35-33 victory during a period of time in which the Lady Eagles’ defense blanked the Lady Greyhounds. The victory — Georgetown’s 12th in 14 starts — gives the Lady Eagles the needed momentum going into the Christmas break and the stern challenge starting on Tuesday, Dec. 29, when they return to competition with five games in 10 days, including four District 25-5A contests. But let us first return to the closing minutes Monday afternoon.
Boerne had taken a 33-29 lead with 3:47 to go on a field goal by freshman post Averi Aaron. The Lady Greyhounds would not score again, but a free throw by Sheila Lee at the 2:42 mark deadlocked the game at 33-33 before Niah Williams and Graci Harris provided the two-game winning free throws with 41 and 15 seconds remaining. Aaron missed a scoring attempt at the buzzer for Boerne, now 10-2 on the season. “I’m really pleased,” GHS coach Rhonda Farney said of the Lady Eagles’ sixth straight victory. “It wasn’t perfect by any means. “We hung in there and got more aggressive down the stretch,” A 3-point basket by Harris with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter an another by the 5-foot-7 senior point guard Graci Harris enabled GHS to cut the lead to 14-9 at the end of the first quarter and only trail 19-12 at the half despite scoring just three points — a field goal and a free throw by Williams in the second period.
GHS scored the final five points of the third quarter to pull within four points on a pair of free throws by Williams, setting the stage for a fourth period in which Georgetown outscored Boerne, 12-6. Neither team signed the nets. Georgetown shot 27 percent (10 of 36) and Boerne put down 31 percent (14 of 44). Harris was the only double-digit scorer for the Lady Eagles with 11, while Aaron and sophomore Janie Ruede had 13 and 10 for the Lady Greyhounds. Both teams pulled down 26 rebounds with Spencer having 10. The other major defensive statistics were nearly even with GHS posting a 9-8 edge in steals and had one fewer turnover than Boerne (16-15). Spencer also had a team-high four steals. When the Lady Eagles return to competition on Dec. 29, they will be facing 6A Copperas Cove in a non-district contest before facing make-up district games at Leander Rouse on Dec. 31, and Leander at Eagle Gym on Jan. 2. Regular-schedule 25-5A games are set at home with Liberty Hill on Jan. 5 and on the road with No. 1-ranked Cedar Park on Jan. 8 at the Timberdome.
Farney had special thanks for several individuals who have helped keep things moving in the program during the pandemic. She pointed to GISD Supt. Dr. Fred Brent, GISD athletic director Jason Dean and GHS principal Brian Johnson. “With these individuals at this time and in these circumstances, we have outstanding leadership,” Farney said. “Much better than in other districts.” She also thanked her coaching staff — Corey Cunningham, Katie Youngblood and Tosha Doherty — for their work this season and the ability to fill holes in the team’s schedule when they have occurred such as this past weekend’s additions of Buda Hays and Boerne to replace Leander and Rouse, both currently sidelined by Covid-19 quarantines. Also receiving praise were announcer Curtis Parker, scorebook keeper Lynne Krog, timer Suzanne Isbell and scoreboard operator Julius Johnson for their contributions in keeping the in-game operations progressing in a professional manner.
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The undefeated Georgetown JV improved its record to 14-0 Monday with a 51-23 victory over Boerne. The Lady Eagles posted a 31-4 halftime lead and increased the count to 39-4 before the young Greyhounds ended a 20-minute and 15-second scoreless drought with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter. Boerne had led 4-2 less than two minutes into the game. Taylor Meyners and Jane Butler led Corey Cunningham’s JV with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Both GHS freshman teams lost over the weekend. The Blue, now 9-2 on the season, dropped a 36-34 decision in what was described as a highly competitive game with Lampasas on Saturday, while the White (1-7) fell 32-14 to Salado’s Flex team on Monday. It was the White’s second loss to Salado in four days.
The visiting first-year Lady Badgers outscored GHS, 20-16, in the second half to claim the victory. Caroline Rutledge, Aspen Mayo and Lucy Waring had 10, nine and eight points to lead the Lady Eagles. The Salado Flex team jumped to a 12-5 halftime lead and closed out the win on its homecourt with a 20-9 edge in the second half. Mariah Noel and Aspen Mayo each had five points for GHS.
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MONDAY’S VARSITY NON-DISTRICT GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 35, BOERNE 33
BHS (33) — Liz Fox 2-4 0-0 4, Addison Amick 0-1 0-0 0, Jamie Ruede 4-14 0-0 10, Jordyn Lemm 1-3 0-0 2, Abby Smith 0-0 1-2 1, Averi Aaron 6-15 1-1 Jessica Davila 0-3 0-0 0, Hannah Rocchio 1-4 0-2, Anita Perez 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 14-44 (31 percent) 3-7 (42 percent) 33.
GHS (35) — Ella Vickers 0-0 0-0 0, Niah Williams 2-7 5-8 9, Jacqui Spencer 1-8 1-2 3, Sam Folsom 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Larson 1-4 0-0 2, Graci Harris 4-10 1-2 11, Megan Herring 0-0 5-6 5, Jordyn Stout 0-2 0-0 0, Lauren Woodard 0-1 0-0 0, Sheila Lee 2-4 1-5 5. Totals: 10-36 (27 percent) 13-23 (56 percent) 35.
Halftime: BHS, 19-12. 3-point shooting: BHS, 2-11 (Fox 0-2, Amick 0-1, Ruede 2-6, Davila 0-2(; GHS, 2-9 (Spencer 0-1, Harris 2-5, Stout 0-2). Assists: GHS, 7 (Woodard 2, Harris 2, Vickers 1, Spencer 1, Larsson 1). Rebounds: BHS, 26, 9 offensive (Aaron 8, Perez 3, Lemm 3, Ruede 3); GHS 26, 8 offensive (Spencer 10, Williams 5, Harris 3, Lee 3). Blocks: BHS 2 (Aaron 1, Lemm 1); GHS, 3 (Williams 2, Harris 1). Steals: BHS, 8 (Davila 3, Aaron 2, Ruede 2); GHS 9 (Spencer 4, Harris 2). Turnovers: BHS, 16; GHS 15. Total fouls: BHS, 17; GHS, 9. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Boerne, 10-2; Georgetown, 12-2.
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MONDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
(GHS scoring only)
Junior Varsity
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 51, BOERNE 23
GHS (51) — Natalie Rivera 0 0-0 0, Erica Ramthun 1 2-2 4, Brooke White 3 0-0 9, Avery Lopez 3 0-2 6, Taylor Meyners 4 4-6 13, Madelyne Furr 1 2-2 4, Amiya Gonzales 2 0-0 4, Jane Butler 3 2-2 10. Abby Brent 0 1-2 1, Caroline Rutledge 0 0-0 0. Lucy Waring 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 11-16 51. Halftime: GHS, 31-4. 3-point baskets made: White 3, Butler 2, Meyners 1. GHS record: 14-0.
FRESHMAN WHITE
At Salado
SALADO FLEX 32, GEORGETOWN WHITE 14
GHS (14) — Ashley Valverde 0 0-0 0, Itzel Bazaldua 0 1-4 1, Lexi Hatch 0 0-0 0, Melodi Valdez 0 0-0 0, Mariah Noel 2 1-4 5, Gabby Phillips 0 1-2 1, Aspen Mayo 2 3-3-7. Totals: 4 6-15 14. Halftime: Salado, 12-5. 3-point baskets made: none. GHS record: 1-7.
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SATURDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAME
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
FRESHMAN BLUE
LAMPASAS 36, GEORGETOWN BLUE 34
GHS (34) — Itzel Bazaldua 0 0-0 0, Bella Flowers 0 0-1 0, Caroline Rutledge 3 4-9 10, Ashlyn Sanchez 0 4-6 4, Lucy Waring 4 0-2 8, Ava Linyard 1 1-2 3, Gabby Phillips 0 0-0 0, Aspen Mayo 4 1-2 9. Totals: 12 10-22 34. Halftime: GHS, 18-16. 3-point baskets made: none. GHS record: 9-2.
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DISTRICT 25-5A AT A GLANCE
Standings — Georgetown, 3-0; Cedar Park, 2-0; Leander Rouse, 2-1; Leander Glenn, 2-2; East View, 1-2; Leander, 0-1; Liberty Hill, 0-2; Marble Falls, 0-2.
Friday’s results– Leander at Georgetown, ppd. Covid-19. Rouse at East View, ppd. Covid-19; Cedar Park 63, Glenn 35; Marble Falls at Liberty Hill, ppd, Covid-19.
Tuesday’s games — Georgetown at Rouse, ppd., Covid 19; East View at Cedar Park, 1:45 p .m.; Glenn at Marble Falls, 2 p.m.; Liberty Hill at Leander, ppd. Covid 19.
CHRISTMAS BREAK
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UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULES
(Subject to change)
VARSITY
Tuesday (Dec. 29) — Copperas Cove, 2 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 31) — at Rouse, 2 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 2) — Leander, 2 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Tuesday (Dec. 29) — Copperas Cove, 12:30 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 31) — at Rouse, 12:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 2) — Leander, 12:30 p.m.
FRESHMAN BLUE
Tuesday (Dec. 29) — Copperas Cove, 11 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 31) — at Rouse, 11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 2) — Leander, 11 a.m.
FRESHMAN WHITE
No game until Jan. 15.
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TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Dec. 31)
- Cedar Park. 8-1; 2. Amarillo, 7-1; 3. College Station, 9-2; 4. Humble Kingwood Park. 12-0; 5. Wichita Falls Rider, 9-2; 6. Beaumont United, 6-0; 7. GEORGETOWN, 12-2; 8. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 13-2; 9. Mansfield Legacy, 11-1; 10. Lubbock Cooper, 11-2; 11. Mansfield Timberview, 8-4; 12. Bryan Rudder, 9-3; 13. Boerne Champion, 8-1; 14. Pflugerville Hendrickson, 9-2; 15. Richmond Foster, 10-2; 16. McKinney North, 9-3; 17. Princeton. 12-1; 18. Wylie East, 11-3; 19. Red Oak, 9-4; 20. Castroville Medina Valley, 10-3; 21. Lake Dallas, 10-4; 22. Midlothian, 9-3; 23. Grapevine, 10-3; 24. Manvel, 9-4; 25. Kerrville Tivy, 6-3.