GHS-HENDRICKSON SCRIMMAGE

By GALEN WELLNICKI
Georgertown’s Lady Eagles will open their regular-basketball season with the traditional game against Waco Midway at 7 p.m. Monday at Eagle Gym.
The Lady Eagles, coming off a solid performance in their final scrimmage with Pflugerville Hendrickson on Wednesday night at Eagle Gym, will open the campaign with a bull’s-eye firmly attached to their backs. GHS is ranked third in the state in Class 5A in preseason rankings by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and Dave Campbell’s Texas Basketball magazine and ninth by the Texas Association of Basketball coaches.
The Pantherettes, who survived an off-season attempt to change their nickname to Panthers, are ranked 10th in 6A by Campbell’s publication, but are unranked by either coaching group. However, they are the consensus favorites in 8-6A, returming 12 players from last season’s 28-7 regional finalists.
“I’ve seen film on them,” GHS coach Rhonda Farney said of Midway. “In some ways they play a lot like Hendrickson. They are athletic as all get out and put a lot of pressure on you.”
As for the scrimmage with Hendrickson that was played mostly in a regular-game format, Farney said, “I was very pleased — especially with our play on defense. The girls were playing hard and taking pride in what they were doing. We still have a lot of work to do. Our execution could have been much better,”
Except for the third quarter when Hendrickson outscored the Lady Eagles, 17-10, GHS held a decided advantage in the scrimmage, leading 17-5 after the first quarter and 30-11 at the half. The Lady Eagles finished on top by a 55-40 count as they regained control with a run of nine-consecutive points to start the fourth quarter to go up 49-28 with five minutes and 11 seconds remaining in the contest.
Senior point guard Brooke Elliott scored seven of her 10 points in the first quarter to lead the early GHS attack, which started with a 3=pointer by Elliott. The key 9-point run to start the final quarter included two backets and a free throw by 5-foot-10 junior Catherine Deitlein, a layup by Elliott and a field goal by 6-1 feshman Emery Herman.
For the 32-minute session, Dee Day, a 6-1 senior post, scored 16 points with Deitlein and Elliott adding 12 and 10, respectively. The Lady Eagles shot 46 percent (20 of 43) — 48 percent on 2-pointers and were two of six on 3-point attempts.
Elliott, and her senior twin Taylor Elliott. had five and four assists, respectively, while 5-7 junior Maddie Vickers and Herman had five rebounds each. Taylor Elliott and Day had three steals each.
Looking at individual efforts in the scrimmage, Farney said, “Brooke showed a lot of energy and Josie (5-0 guard Weirich) and Taylor played well. Vickers was very hard-nosed. E.J. (5-11 sophomore post) Jones (coming off a shoulder injury) played much better tonight. Deitlein gave us options inside with her quickness around the basket. Herman is just gloing to get better as she transitions from volleyball and learns out system.
“Dee has been our most-imporved player. She’s played big-time in our two scrimmages and has improved her body language considerably since last season.”
Farney found ample playing time for all nine players on the varsity roster.”
GHS dominated both the JV and Freshman Blue scrimmage. After being tied 8-8 after the first period, the Lady Eagles JV simply ran away from their Henderickson counterparts en route to a 63-31 victory. Coach Kellyre Richardson’s crew outscored the Hawks, 19-5, in the second quarter and 19-6 in the third period.
The GHS JV, playing with only seven active players, was led by Shelby Jones with 17 points and Gracie Speer added 14. Morgan Bruning also finished in double-digits with 10 points.
The Freshman Blue posted a 38-13 win and the Freshman White dropped a 25-12 decision.
WEDNESDAY’S SCRIMMAGES WITH HENDRICKSON
Varsity
At Eagle Gym
GHS 55, HENDRICKSON 40
HENDRICKSON 40 — Brooke Lopez 2-3-8, Angel Thai 1-0-2, Amanda Dike 2-1-5, Rylie Skahill 1-0-2, Megan Kirby 3-2-8, Unidentified player 3-5-12, Sellison 1-0-3. Totals: 13-11-40.
GHS (55) — Btooke Elliott 2-2 5-6 10, Josie Weirch 1-1 0-0 3, Taylor Elliott 1-3 2-4 4, Catherine Dietlein 5-8 2-5 12, Jaelyn Knight 1-5 0-0 2, Maddie Vickers 1-6 0-0 2, Emery Herman 1-2 0-0 2, Dee Day 6-12 4-7 16, Emily Jones 2-4 0-2 4. Totals: 20-43 13-24 55.
Halftime score: GHS, 30-11. 3-point Shooting: GHS 2-6 (B. Elliott 1-1, Weirch 1-1, T. Elliott 0-1, Vickers 0-1, Day 0-1, Jones 0-1). Rebounds: GHS 19 (Vickers 5, Herman 5, B. Elliott 2, Jones 2). Assists: 15 (B. Elliott 5, T. Elliott 4, Herman 3). Steals: 14 (Day 3, T. Elliott 3, Jones 2, B. Elliott 2, Dietlein 2. Blocks: GHS 1 (Day). Turnovers: GHS 15. Total fouls: GHS 24. Fouled out: none (scrimmage rules did not disqualify players with more than five fouls).
Note: Complete statistics on Hendrickson not available.
Junior Varsity
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
GHS 63, HENDRICKSON 31 — Gracie Speer 14, Morgan Bruning 10, Isbell 3, Hailey Wickline 7. Shelby Jones 17, Miranda Gil 4, Jade Smith 8. Halftime score: 27-13. Note: Emili Harris and Samari O’Brien did not play).
Freshman
At GHS Auxiliary Gym
(GHS scoring Only)
GHS BLUE 38, HENDRICKSON 13 — Kylie Ellsworth 6, Kylie Sander 3, Maya Perry 2, McCall Hampton 8, Keinna San Miguel 8, MacKenzie Mouton 4, Mercedes Robledo 2, Haily Hasnson 1. Scorebook incomplete: Missing four points in first quarter.
HENDRICKSON 25, GHS WHITE 12 — Na’Keia Cook 8, Caroline Horton 3, Keyla Perez 1.
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
PRESEASON 5A RANKINGS
1. Canyon. 2. Mansfield Timberview. 3. Frisco Liberty. 4. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill. 5. Aledo. 6. El Paso Burges. 7. Kerrville Tivy. 8. Mansfield Summitt. 9. Georgetown. 10. Bryan Rudder. 11. Prosper. 12. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. 13. McKinney North. 14. Amarillo. 15. Amarillo Palo Duro. 16. Port Lavaca Calhoun. 17. The Colony. 18. Grapevine. 19. College Station. 20. Crowley. 21. Austin SFA. 22. Tomball Memorial. 23. Crosby. 24. Brownsville Veteran’s Memorial. 25. San Antonio Lanier.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
PRESEASON 5A RANKINGS
1. Canyon. 2. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill. 3. Georgetown. 4. Frisco Liberty. 5. Mansfield Timberview. 6. Amarillo. 7. Aledo. 8. The Colony. 9. Crosby. 10. El Paso Burges.
DAVE CAMPBELL’s TEXAS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON 5A RANKINGS
1. Canyon. 2. Frisco Liberty. 3. Georgetown. 4. Mansfield Summitt. 5. El Paso Burges. 6. Aledo. 7. Mansfield Timberwolves. 8. Crosby. 9. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. 10. Bryan Rudder. 11. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill. 12. Prosper. 13. West Mesquite. 14. Austin LBJ. 15. Magnolia. 16. Grapevine. 17. Victoria East. 18. San Angelo Lake View. 19. Floresville. 20. Laredo Cigarroa.