A noncompetitive night of athletic competition is about as appetizing as the week-old meatloaf in the back of your fridge and potentially as dangerous to a contending team as a patch of black ice on a dark sidewalk. Of course, dead meat-loaf can have its dangers as well. “I’m glad to have that one over,” Georgetown coach Rhonda Farney said after a night at Bastrop Cedar Creek that included a forfeit victory in the freshman game, an 81-2 win in the JV contest and a 69-24 triumph in the varsity encounter. “It’s hard to play games like that. Your biggest worry is possibly getting someone hurt.” On the positive side, the victory, in which Farney was able to find playing time for all hands, kept the seventh-ranked Lady Eagles (24-8) deadlocked with East View (24-5) for the lead in District 18-5A at 9-1 with two games remaining in the regular season. The Patriots, ranked 18th in the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, currently own an edge on GHS with a 46-42 win in the first round.The Lady Eagles and Patriots, who are coming off a 45-33 win over third-place Bastrop, will both be trying to avoid possible “trap games” on Friday prior to their expected championship showdown at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eagle Gym. Georgetown will play host to Hutto (5-5 in 18-5A, 13-22 season) and East View will visit Elgin (1-9 in 18-5A, 4-25 season) on Friday.
The Lady Eagles game with the Patriots will be the nightcap of a boys-girls doubleheader.
Georgetown defeated Hutto, 48-27, in the first-round meeting on Jan. 24 in Hutto. Friday’s outing with the Lady Hippos will also be Cancer Warriors Night. Hutto, which is still battling Manor for the fourth playoff spot in 18-5A, is the only team to own a win over the Patriots — a 45-36 decision on Dec. 20. In fact, if GHS beats Hutto and Manor tops hapless Cedar Creek on Friday, the two will be playing for a playoff spot on Tuesday when they meet head-to-head in Hippoville. Looking ahead to bi-district, the only thing certain about 17-5A is that second-ranked Cedar Park (10-0 district, 27-3 season) has clinched the district crown and No. 1 seeding in the playoffs with Pflugerville Connally and Marble Falls battling for second and third and Pflugerville (5-6), Leander Glenn (3-7) and Leander Rouse (3-7) in the fight for fourth. Although it currently has a two-game edge, Pflugerville needs an upset win over Cedar Park or losses by both Glenn and Rouse to clinch fourth on Friday. Glenn faces a potentially tough task at Marble Falls and Rouse has winless Pflugerville Weiss (0-10) at home.
In Tuesday’s battle at Cedar Creek, Georgetown charged out to a 24-4 lead after the first period, upped the advantage to 33-9 at the half, ran the margin to 51-12 after three quarters. The Lady Eagles bounced the lead out to 40 points with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter on a field goal by McCall Hampton. The largest margin was the final 45 point difference as Jacqui Spencer scored a basket with 41 seconds left to play. Statistically, the game was as uneven as the final score indicated. GHS held Cedar Creek to just six fields in 42 attempts (14.3 percent), while hitting on 24 of 54 (44.4 percent), posted a 41-19 rebounding edge, forced 31 turnovers and stole the ball 26 times. Individually for Georgetown, junior post Lauren Woodard led the attack with 14 points and seniors Makenzy Mouton and Hampton added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior guards Kylee Sander and Kylie Ellsworth each pitched in nine points, while Spencer had seven.Six different Lady Eagles had three or more rebounds with Hampton grabbing seven and Woodard and Mouton each pulling down six. Despite scoring only four points, junior point guard Graci Harris topped the assist chart with six and had a team-high seven steals. Sander added six steals and Ellsworth had five assists.
“Woodard and Spencer came off the bench and did good things for us,” Farney said. “Our seniors played really well. We’re ready to get home and start preparing for Hutto.”After Georgetown opened the JV game with a 10-0 run in the initial two minutes and 24 seconds of the game, Cedar Creek scored a field goal and then went 29 minutes and 22 seconds without scoring an additional point. The victory improved GHS to 9-0 in district and 17-8 for the season.
“The JV kids played really well,” Farney said. “Megan Herring had an exceptional game and Sam Folsom also stood out.” Herring led GHS scoring with 18 points with Morgan Larson (13 points), Shelia Lee (15 points) , Vyctorya Lehr (10 points) and Brooke White (10 points) also scoring in double figures. For the Freshman Blue, now 9-0 in district and 26-0 for the year, it was their second victory by forfeit in their past three 18-5A games. “I was disappointed that the Freshman Blue didn’t get to play,” Farney said. Friday’s sub-varsity schedule with Hutto will find the JV and Freshman Blue both playing at 5:30 p.m.
***
DISTRICT 18-5A RACE AT A GLANCE
(Through games of Tuesday, Feb. 4)
Standings: East View*, 9-1; Georgetown**, 9-1; Bastrop**, 7-4; Hutto, 5-5; Manor, 4-6; Elgin, 1-9; Bastrop Cedar Creek, 1-10.
* — 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 (Jan. 31) 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 results: Georgetown 69, Cedar Creek 24; East View 45, Bastrop 33; Hutto 58, Elgin 35. Bye — Manor.
Friday’s games: Hutto at Georgetown, 7 p.m.; East View at Elgin, 7 p.m.; Cedar Creek at Manor, 7 p.m. Bye — Bastrop.
***
DISTRICT 17-5A AT A GLANCE
(18-5A plays 17-5A in bi-district)
Standings: Cedar Park*, 10-0; Pflugerville Connally*, 8-3; Marble Falls*, 7-3; Pflugerville, 5-6; Leander Glenn 3-7; Leander Rouse, 3-7; Pflugerville Weiss, 0-10.
* — 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 (Jan. 27) results: Pflugerville 59, Leander Glenn 47; Cedar Park 49, Pflugerville Weiss 11; Pflugerville Connally 46, Leander Rouse 36. Bye — Marble Falls.
Tuesday’s results: Marble Falls 55, Pflugerville Connally 54; Pflugerville 54, Pflugerville Weiss 35; Leander Rouse 46, Leander Glenn 34. Bye — Cedar Park.
Friday’s games: Cedar Park at Pflugerville, 7 p.m.; Leander Glenn at Marble Falls, 7 p.m.; Pflugerville Weiss at Leander Rouse, 7 p.m. Bye — Pflugerville Connally.
***
TUESDAY’S DISTRiCT 18-5A GAME
At Bastrop Cedar Creek
GEORGETOWN 69, BASTROP CEDAR CREEK 24
GHS (69) — Ella Vickers 0-2 0-2 0, Kylee Sander 3-7 2-4 9, Jacqui Spencer 3-8 1-1 7, Hailey Hanson 0-1 2-2 2, McCall Hampton 4-9 3-3-11, Kylie Ellsworth 3-6 2-2 9, Graci Harris 2-4 0-0 4, Mackenzy Mouton 5-7 2-5 12, Mercedes Robledo 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Woodard 4-6 6-8 14, Jordyn Stout 0-1 0-0 0, Nia Williams 0-3, 1-2 1. Totals: 24-54 19-29 69.
CEDAR CREEK (24) — Gaby Gomez 1-4 0-0 2, Jiselle Portillo 0-1 0-0 0, Jatavia Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Alexa McDonald 2-9 0-0 5, Camry Masters 0-3, 2-2 2, Kaitlyn Samarripa 0-1 0-0 0, Malia DeShay 1-10 5-9 7, Jordan Kirby 1-5 0-0 2, Aaliyah Ybarra 0-2 1-4 1, Janell Welcome 0-2 0-0 0, Kiana Sapien 1-2 3-4 5, Aniale Davidson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 6-42 11-19 24.
Halftime: GHS, 33-9. 3-point shooting: GHS 2-8 (Vickers 0-2, Sander 1-1, Hanson 0-1, Ellsworth 1-2, Harris 0-1, Stout 0-1); CC 1-8 (Gomez 0-1, McDonald 1-4, Kirby 0-2, Welcome 0-1). Assists: GHS 21 (Harris 6, Ellsworth 5, Sander 2, Spencer 2, Williams 2). Blocks: GHS 3 (Williams 2, Mouton 1); CC 1. Rebounds: GHS 41 (Hampton 7, Mouton 6, Woodard 6, Ellsworth 5, Spencer 4, Williams 4, Harris 3: CC 19 (DeShay 4). Steals: GHS 26 (Harris 7, Sander 6, Spencer 4, Williams 3); CC 5 (five with one each). Turnovers: GHS 14, CC 31. Total fouls: GHS 18, CC 22. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: CC 1, Totals: GHS, 9-1 in 18-5A, 24-8; Cedar Creek, 1-10 in 18-5A, 7-27.
***
TUESDAY’S SUB-VARSITY GAMES
At Bastrop Cedar Creek
(GHS scoring only)
GEORGETOWN JV 81, CEDAR CREEK JV 2 — Brooke White 10, Sam Folsom 7, Tanaya Smith 2, Morgan Larson 13, Shelia Lee 15, Megan Herring 18, Vyctorya Lehr 10, Lauren Cavanaugh 6. Halftime: GHS, 50-11. GHS record: 9-0 in 18-5A, 17-8.
GEORGETOWN FRESHMAN BLUE def. CEDAR CREEK FRESHMEN, FORFEIT (Cedar Creek failed to field a team). GHS record: 9-0 in 18-5A, 26-0. Note: GHS also claimed a forfeit over Elgin when it failed to field a freshman team on Jan. 24.
***
LADY EAGLES REMAINING GAMES
(Current record: 24-8 season, 9-1 district)
District 18-5A Games
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.
***
LADY EAGLES SEASON TO DATE
(Current record: 24-8 season, 9-1 district)
November
8 — Round Rock Cedar Ridge (l) 38-44
11 — at Waco Midway (l) 28-52
***
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
***
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
***
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
***
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
February
4 — at Bastrop Cedar Creek* (w) 69-24
* — 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.