Georgetown will try to retain at least a share of the District 19-5A lead at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it entertains third-place Rouse at Eagle Gym in the Lady Eagles’ final outing prior to the Christmas break.
After last Friday’s 44-43 overtime victory over East View on the Lady Patriots’ court, the Lady Eagles currently stand 18th in the Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A poll and shared the 19-5A lead with No. 12 Cedar Park at 5-0. No. 21 Rouse was close behind at 4-1 in the race for the nine-team district’s four playoff positions.
The district race will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when the Lady Eagles visiting Cedar Park for a 6:30 p.m. games.
During the break in the 19-5A schedule, the Lady Eagles, currently 12-5 on the season, will compete in a showcase-type tournament on Wednesday and Thurday, Dec. 27-28, in Albany and Holden, La. Georgetown will play Denham Springs (10:30 a.m.) and Holden (1:30 p.m.) at Holden High School on Wednesday and Scotlandville (10:30 a.m.) and Sulphur (1:30 p.m.) on Thursday at Albany High School.
Deadlocked 38-38 after regulation in a game that saw East View erase a 10-point GHS halftime lead, the Lady Eagles quickly grabbed the advantage in the four-minute overtime period on a 3-pointer by senior Josie Weirich with 3:09 to go in the extra period, making it 41-38.
East View’s Diamond Morrison responded with a basket to make it 41-40 with 2:43 remaining. Junior guard Ali Isbell and sophomore forward McCall Hampton both sank free throws to up the lead to 43-40 with 1:37 to go. And Isbell provided Georgetown’s final point with a free throw with 1:07 left. East View’s Lilly Brown sank a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left on the clock to make it 44-43., Neither team would score again as GHS withstood a determined East View rally attempt in the closing seconds.
“I was very proud of our varsity team Friday night,” GHS coach Rhonda Farney said. “Jaelyn Knight and Jade Smith played extremely well early as we built a double-digit halftime lead. When I decided to pull the ball out and get a player to player matchup, we did not respond well. East View became massively aggressive, and we became tentative and played confused.
“I think we all learned from this. McCall Hampton made some big baskets down the stretch and Josie Weirich had a big defensive play and timely three in overtime. On East View’s last offensive possession, Ali Isbell played good on-ball defense and Jade came up with a giant rebound.
“Although I would characterize our win as ugly, it was our fifth district win in as many tries. I love how this team figured out a way to prevail. Also, I thought East View had a monster shooting night from Morrison, Cassiday Salyer and (Lilly) Brown.”
However, the victory may have proved physically costly for the Lady Eagles as both Knight and senior guard Maddie Vickers hit the deck hard late in the game. Knight had an elbow wrapped in ice after the game and Vickers was on crutches.
The Lady Eagles made 15 of 31 shots from the floor, including four of 12 beyond the arch, anbd were 10 of 18 from the line, with three of the missesd in overtime. GHS took a 22-18 edge on the boards with Vickers leading the way with nine and Hampton adding four. GHS also had 20 steals with Vickers having six and Knight four. However, they turned the ball over 19 times. Smith added two blocks to the Georgetown defensive total.
Knight led GHS scoring with 16 points, while Hampton and Weirich had nine and eight, respectively. Salyer and L. Brown, both canning four treys, paced EV scoring with 12 points each. The Patriots made 15 of 41 shots, including nine of 28 from beyond the arc.
“Also, congratulations to Coach (Kellye) Richardson and our JV on their 5-0 district start. And to Coach Canfield and our boys team on their exciting (59-57) district win (in the second game of the doubleheader),” Farney said. “It was so much fun to play a double-header with the boys. Our fans and student body loved it. I wish we played this schedule for all district games. It would be great for our players and fans and the game.”
GEORGETOWN VS. EAST VIEW
At East View, Friday, Dec. 15
VARSITY
GEORGETOWN 44, EAST VIEW 43 (OT)
GHS (44) — Ali Isbell 1-4 2-4 5, Josie Weirich 3-7 0-0 8, Samari O”briene 0-0 0-0 0, Kylie Ellsworth 1-2 0-0 3, Mackenzy Mouton 0-0 0-0 0, Jaelyn Knight 7-12 2-4 16, Maddie Vickers 0-1 3-6 3, Jade Smith 0-1 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 3-4 3-4 9. Totals: 145-31 10-18.
EAST VIEW (43) — Mary Bown 1-4 0-0 3, Paighton Corley 1-5 0-0 2, Diamond Morrison 3-10 2-2 8, Jessica Workman 1-4 0-0 2, Alauna Ortega 0-0 0-0 0, Cassidy Salyer 4-11 0-0 12, Sydney Huck 1-1 2-4 4, Alex Stone 0-0 0-0 0, Lily Brown 4-6 0-0 12. Totals: 15-41 4-6 43.
Halftime: GHS, 22-12. Regulation: 38-38. 3-point shooting: GHS 4-12 (Isbell 1-4, Weirich 2-6, Ellsworth 1-1, Vickers 0-1); EV 9-28 (M. Brown 1-4, Corley 0-1, Morrison 0-4, Workman 0-3, Salyer 4-11, L. Brown 4-8). Rebounds: GHS 22 (Vickers 9, Hampton 4, Knight 3); EV 18 (Huck 4, Workman 4, Morrison 4). Assists: GHS 11 (Ellsworth, Smith). Steals: GHS 20 (Vickers 6, Knight 4, Ellsworth 3). Blocks: GHS 2 (Smith 2). Turovers: GHS 19, EV 16. Total fouls: GHS 11, EV 17. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Georgetown, 5-0 in 19-5A, 12-5; East View, 1-4 in 19-5A, 6-12.
DISTRICT 19-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
Standings: Cedar Park, 5-0; Georgetown, 5-0; Rouse, 4-1; Pflugerville Connally, 3-2; Hutto, 2-3; Bastrop, 2-4; East View, 1-4; Elgin, 1-5; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 1-5.
Friday‘ results: Georgetown 44, East View 43 (OT); Rouse 69, Cedar Creek 27; Nastrop 64, Connally 57; Hutto 65, Elgin 36. Bye: Cedar Park.
Tuesday games: Rouse at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Connally, 7:30 p.m.; Bastrop at Hutto, 7 p.m.; Cedar Park at Cedar Creek, 7 p.m. Bye: Elgin.
(Christmas break begins)
SUB-VARSITY
(GHS scoring only)
GHS JV 37, EAST VIEW 27 –Kylee Sander 9, Hailey Hanson 0, Hailey Smith 6, Maya Perry 6, Mercedes Robledo 4, Kieana San Miguel 12, Alicia King 0. Halftime: GHS 21-11. GHS record: 5-0 in 19-5A, 16-1.
GHS FRESHMAN BLUE 39, EAST VIEW FRESHMAN A 15 — Graci Harris 8, Jordayn Stout 2, Vyctorya Lehr 3, Megan Herring 8, Lauren Woodard 9, Skylar Neugent 8. Halftime: GHS, 18-10. GHS record: 5-0 in 19-5A, 15-2.
GHS FRESHMAN WHITE 39, EAST VIEW FRESHMAN B 12 — Reece Johnson 14, Kaytie Sander 4, Cheyenne Garcia 10, Abigail Salinas 4, Leia Crissman 2, Maddie LaCour 4. Halftime: GHS, 12-5. GHS record: 2-0 in 19-5A, 9-3.
Source: Lady Eagles Basketball.
— By GALEN WELLNICKI