By GALEN WELLNICKI
For the fifth consecutive season and the seventh time in eight years, the Georgetown Lady Eagles will be playing in a UIL regional basketball tournament — this time it will be in the Region III-5A event on Fridayand Saturday at the Houston ISD’s $35.2 million Delmar Fieldhouse.
Coach Rhonda Farney’s Eagles used a 23-point performance by senior point guard Brooke Elliott to send regional quarterfinal opponent Tomball Memoial packing, 47-31, Tuesday night at Bryan High’s recently refurbished Viking Gym.
The victory improved GHS to 27-7 on the season and earned a regional semifinal berth against surprising Beaumont Central (25-11) in at 5 p.m. Friday semifinal battle. The Jaguars upset heavily favorited Manvel, 24-21, in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.
On the other side of the four-team bracker, Rouse (25-10) will play regional favorite Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (32-4) in a 7 p.m. contest. The two semifinal winners will collide at 1 p.m. Saturday for the regional crown and a berth in the UIL State Tournament next Thursday and Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Rouse, which tied Cear Park for second in 19-5A behind Georgetown and entered the playoffs as a No. 3 seed, upended 18-5A champion College Station, 43-39, in its quarterfinal on Tuesday. Barbers Hill, with 6-foot-5 junior Charli Collier, advanced with a 48-39 win over Beaumont Ozen.
In reaching the regional tournament, Georgetown, which went 15-1 in 19-5A with the only loss being to Rouse, 56-44, in the second round of district play, has moved through the first three rounds of the playoffs with victories over Waller, 70-55, and Bryan Rudder, 57-24, in addition to Memorial, which was unsuccesful in forcing its slow-down, ball-control ways on the Lady Eagles.
Prior to the upset of Manvel, the Jaguars upset state-ranked Dayton, 77-73, and bested Fort Bend Willowridge, 54-34.
“Beaumont Central is the hot team in the playoffs that can win by scoring a lot of points or not so many,” Farney said.. “They were the underdogs against Dayton in bi-district and won in overtime against a state-ranked team,. They blew out Willowridge in the area round and defeated heavy favorite Manvel on Tuesday night. They have an outstanding post in (No. 22) Anastacia Mickens and guard (No. 15) Dereca Garrett. These two make them go!”
Mickens and Garrett are a pair of 5-10 seniors.
“Our new motto has become ONE MORE!,” Farney said as the Lady Eagles got in two days of practice for this weekend’s tests.
Elliott’s hot hand was a major factor in keeping GHS from falling into a trap that had proved fatal to many of the Wildcats’ opponents, including Temple in area action. Tomball’s game plan was to grab the lead, spread the floor and make the opposition play catch-up against a disciplined team with good free-throw shooters.
The 5-foot-8 Elliott, who is headed to Mary Hardin-Baylor after graduation scored 10 points in the first half and 13 in the second half. She made six of her nine shots from the floor, including five of seven from beyond the arch. She also made six of seven free thows, including four straight in the fourth quarter.
“We came to play and step it up,” Elliott said after the game. “You have to have confidence to make those shots.”
With the Memorial defense packing down on 6-1 post Dee Day, limiting her to a season low two points, the Lady Eagles were able to spring Elliott open in the corners and over the top of the key.
“Brooke had an outstanding game for us,” Farney said. “Despite the defensive pressure Dee was able to keep her composure. I couldn’t be more pleased. E.J. (sophomore post Jones) slipped in and got some key baskets in the third quarter. Taylor (senior Elliott) played good defense and Emery (6-1 freshman Herman) did a good job on their point guard.”
After falling behind 5-4 in the first quarter, a three-pointer by T. Elliott with two seconds remaining in the period, put GHS up for good at 7-5. With twin sister, B. Elliott scoring six in the period, the Lady Eagles advvanced the lead out to 18-12 at the half.
Memorial cut the lead to four at 18-14 with just over a minute having elapsed in the third quarter, but would not get that close again as Georgetown led 30-19 after three. The Wildcats did suffer a major blow when guard Tishann Nguyen went down with an apparent knee problem early in the third. She did not return.
The Wildcats rallied early in the fourth period to cut the Lady Eagles’ advantage to 37-31 with three minutes and 33 seconds remaining on a bucket by the Richards. However, that would be the last points of the game for Memorial as GHS scored the final 10 points of the game — a three by B. Elliott and seven free throes.
Another factor in GHS’ favor was Memorial’s Savannah Bambridge and Essence Richards getting in foul trouble early.
B. Elliott was the only played on either team to score in double figures. T. Elliott and Herman added five points each for the Lady Eagles, who hit 14 of 27 from the floor but only 13 of 28 from the line. GHS tok a 21-18 edge on the boards with Jones grabbing a team-high six.
Richards led Memorial with eight points. The Wildcats shot 11 of 26 from the floor, bvut only two of nine from beyond the arch. Memorial also had trouble at the line making just seven of 15.
The Region III-5A champion will advance to one of the two state semifinals at either 7 or 8:30 p.m. next Thursday with the state title game set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
“I just want to say, ‘Special thanks to our scout-team players from our freshman and junior varsity teams, ‘ ” Farney said. “They did an outstanding job preparing us for Tomball Memorial. As they help us, they are actually helping themselves to get in some great extra practice. We are fortunate to have young players with ability who are extremely motivated.”
In their past four trips to the regional tournament, GHS advanced to the state championship in 2013, the state semifinals in 2014 and the regional finals in both 2015 and 2016. They defeated Dallas Lincoln to win the state crown in 2013, lost to eventual state champion Canyon in the 2014 semifinals and lost to Vista Ridge in the Region IV-5A finals in 2015 and 2016.
LADY EAGLES NOTES: Georgetown will leave campus for Houston at noon on Friday. . . . SHN, with Rob Hipp handling the play-by-play, will broadcast GHS games from the regional event. . . . the Delmar Fieldhouse is located at 2020 Mangum Rd., Houston, 77092.
REGION III-5A QUARTERFINALS
At Bryan High School’s Viking Gym
GEORGETOWN 47, TOMBALL MEMORIAL 31
MEMORIAL (31) — Elise Colin 0-0 0-0 0, Skylar Crawford 0-2 0-0 0, Elissa Leach 0-0 0-0 0, Carlen Diaz 3-6 0-0 7, Reagan Reeves 0-2 0-0 0, Savannah Baimbridge 1-4 2-7 4, Trishann Nguyen 2-4 1-2 5, Kenzie Peterson 2-4 2-2 7, Breanne Baimbridge 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Pederson 0-0 0-0 0, Essence Richards 3-4 2-4 8. Totals: 11-26 7-15 31.
GHS (47) — Brooke Elliott 6-9 6-7 23, Ali Isbell 0-0 0-0 0, Josie Weirich 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Elliott 1-2 2-5 5, Jaelyn Knight 1-2 1-2 3, Maddie Vickers 1-2 1-5 3, Emery Herman 1-1 3-5 5, Jade Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Dee Day 1-4 0-2 2, Emily Jones 3-7 0-2 6. Totals: 14-27 13-28 47.
Halftime: GHS, 18-12. 3-point shooting: TM 2-9 (Diaz 1-2, Reeves 0-2, S. Baimbridge 0-2, Nguyen 0-1, Peterson 1-2); GHS 6-9 (B. Elliott 5-7, T. Elliott 1-2). Rebounds: TM 18 (Richards 5, Diaz 5); GHS 21 (Jones 6, B. Elliott 4, Day 4). Assists: GHS 13 (B. Elliott 3). Steals: GHS 16 (Herman 5, B. Elliott 4, T. Elliott 3). Blocks: GHS 3 (Day 3). Turovers: GHS 4. Total fouls: TM 25, GHS 14. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Tomball Memorial,28-6; Georgetown, 27-7.
REGION III-5A PLAYOFFS
(In bracket order)
Bi-District Results
Tomball Memorial 26, Bastrop 23; Temple 51, Lindale 42; Georgetown 70, Waller 55; Bryan Rudder 58, Nacogdoches 57 (OT); Fort Bend Willowridge 48. Houston Madison 42; Beaumont Central 77, Dayton 73; Manvel 76, Houston Sharpstown 12; Humble Kingwood Park 56, Lumberton 49.
***
College Station 70, Corsicana 12; Magnolia 44, Cedar Park 40; Ennis 71, Bryan 69; Rouse 47, Tomball 31; Beaumont Ozen 64, New Caney 34; Galveston Ball 52, Houston Northside 31; Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 72, Livingston 18; Fort Bend Elkins 73, Houston Furr 31
Area Results
Tomball Memorial 45, Temple 31; Georgetown 57, Bryan Rudder 34; Beaumont Central 54, Fort Bend Willowridge 34; Manvel 52, Humble Kingwood Park 28.
***
College Station 53, Magnolia 48; Rouse 62, Ennis 52; Beaumont Ozen 66, Galveston Ball 32; Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 83, Fort Bend Elkins 49
Quarterfinal results
Georgetown 47, Tomball Memorial 31
Beaumont Central 24, Manvel 21
***
Rouse 43, College Station 39
Mont Belview Barbers Hill 48, Beaumont Ozen 39
REGION III-5A TOURNAMENT
At Delmar Fieldhouse, Houston
Friday’s Semifinals
5 p.m. — Georgetown (27-7) vs. Beaumont Central (25-11). 7 p.m. — Rouse (25-10) vs. Mont Nelvieu Barbers Hill (32-4).
Saturday’s Finals
1 p.m. — Semifinal winners.
OTHER 5A REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
Region I-5A
At Scurry County Coliseum, Snyder
Friday’s Semifinals
4 p.m. — Amarillo (36-1) vs. Colleyville Heritage (29-6). 6 p.m. — Canyon (27-3) vs. Denton Ryan (31-9).
Saturday’s Finals
2 p.m. — Semifinal win ners.
Region II-5A
At Curtis Culwell Coliseum, Garland
Friday’s Semifinals
6 p.m. — Mansfield Legacy (24-11) vs. Frisco Liberty (30-6). 8 p.m. — Mansfield Timberview (34-2) vs. The Colony (36-1).
Saturday’s Finals
11 a.m. — Semifinal winners.
Region IV-5A
At Northside ISD Gym, San Antonio
Friday’s Semifinals
6 p.m. — Marble Falls (23-9) vs. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. 8 p.m. — Austin SFA (32-5) vs. Corpus Christi Carroll (30-8).
Saturday’s Finals
3 p.m. — Semifinal winners.
GHS-BEAUMONT CENTRAL PATHS TO REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Georgetown — District (15-1): Pflugerville Connally (w), 81-44; Hutto (w), 78-14; Elgin (w), 79-12; Bastrop (w), 74-17; East View (w), 47-42; Rouse (w), 55-38; Cedar Park (w), 42-34; Bastrop Cedar Creek (w), 77-29; Pflugerville Connally (w), 77-26; Hutto (w), 82-16; Elgin (w), 74-21; Bastrop (w), 51-21; East View (w), 51-33; Rouse (l), 56-44; Cedar Park (w), 57-28; Bastrop Cedar Creek (w), 53-21. Bi-District: GHS 70, Waller 55. Area: GHS 57, Bryan Rudder 34. Quarterfinals: GHS 47, Tomball Memorial 31.
Beaumont Central — District (unavailable). B-District: Central 77, Dayton 73 (OT); Central 54, Fort Bend Willowridge 34. Quarterfinals: Central 24, Manvel 21.
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A POLL AFTER REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
1. Amarillo. 2. Mansfield Timberview. 3. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill. 4. Canyon. 5. Frisco Liberty. 6. The Colony. 7. Austin SFA. 8. Georgetown. 9. Colleyville Heritage. 10. Rouse.
GHS LADY EAGLES EXPANDED PLAYOFF ROSTER
No. — Name Gr. Pos. Ht.
10 — Brooke Elliott sr. Guard 5-8
12 — Morgan Bruning so. Post 5-8
13 — Samari O’Brien so. Guard 5-6
14 — Ali Isbell so. Guard 5-6
15 — Josie Weirich jr. Guard 5-0
21 — Kylie Ellsworth fr. Guard 5-6
22 — Taylor Elliott sr. Guard 5-6
25 — Shelby Jones so. Guard 5-6
30 — Miranda Gil jr. Guard 5-5
32 — Jaelyn Knight so. Post 5-11
33 — Maddie Vickers jr. Guard 5-7
34 — Emery Herman fr. Guard 6-1
35 — Emili Harris jr. Post 5-10
42 — Jade Smith so. Post 6-0
44 — Gracie Speer so. Guard 5-8
45 — McCall Hampton fr. Guard 5-8
50 — Deonna Day sr. Post 6-1
55 — Emily Jones so. Post 5-11
Head coach: Rhonda Farney.
Asst. coaches: Kellye Richardson, Kristin Curtis, Kevin Spruill.
Trainers: Vanessa Redeau, Chad Hennessey.
Student trainer: Xandrea Lara.
Managers: Katy Brandenburg, Ayssa Ellis, Lucy Palacios, Chloe Sutton.
Athletics director: Todd York.