DEFENSE — a seven-letter word for offensive frustration in sports. Want a graphis definition? Look no farther than 12th-ranked Georgetown’s 46-21 bi-district victory over Marble Falls Tuesday night at Leander High School. The Lady Eagles basically made the cylinder on the basket at the Lady Mustangs’ offensive end of the court as elusive as a 50-cent chicken-fried steak in the penthouse grill of a luxury Dallas or Houston hotel. They held the No. 3 seed from District 18-5A to just nine points over the final 26 minutes and 34 seconds of the game. And Georgetown (26-9) may need another superlative defensive effort at 7 p.m. Friday when it faces 19-5A champion College Station (27-7) in a Class 5A area game at 7 p.m. Friday at Cameron Yoe High School. The 23rd-ranked Lady Cougars are riding an eight-game winning streak, including a 51-24 bi-district win over Humble Kingwood Park on Monday.
The winner of the Georgetown-College Station game will advance to the Region III-5A quarterfinals this coming Monday or Tuesday against either Bryan Rudder (27-7) or Pflugerville Connally (25-11). Rudder, the No. 3 seed from 19-5A and Connally, the second seed from 17-5A, are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Friday in Rockdale. Against Marble Falls, which had lost a seeding game to Connally on the previous Friday, the Lady Eagles held the Lady Mustangs (16-14) to just six baskets in 43 shots (13.9 percent), including only one of 16 beyond the arc, stole the ball 26 times, held the Falls to one point in the second quarter and four each in the third and fourth periods. At one point, GHS held the Lady Mustangs without a field goal for more than 13 minutes. “I can’t tell you how happy I am about the win and the part our defense played,” Farney said after Tuesday’s victory. “The second quarter was the key, holding them to just one point (a free throw by Avie Nail). We just clamped down on defense after the first quarter. That defense made me proud.”
Georgetown junior point guard Graci Harris, scored only four points on four free throws, but had seven steals, picking pockets like the Artful Dodger and Fagin in the classic musical “Oliver,” dished out six assists and grabbed four rebounds. Her backcourt running mate senior Kylie Ellsworth added six steals. The two biggest victims of the Lady Eagles’ defensive purge were Marble Falls’ principal offensive forces — highly-regarded senior Riley Ulbricht and sophomore Gia Lemon, who combined for 46 points in Friday’s loss to Connally. Ulbricht, with 13 points provided nearly two-thirds of her team’s offense, and Lemon was held scoreless. Farney pointed to Ellsworth, sophomore Jacqui Spencer and senior Kylee Sander for keeping constant pressure on Ulbricht, who had scored 28 points against Connally. Friday’s defensive performance marked the 10th time this season that GHS has held an opponent to 30 or fewer points.
Senior forward McCall Hampton, who drew kudos from Farney for her iron-woman performance and the quality of her work, and junior post Lauren Woodard provided 26 of the Lady Eagles’ points. The 5-foot-9 Hampton scored 16 points and grabbed 12 boards and Woodard had 10 points and seven rebounds. Ellsworth was the Lady Eagles’ No. 3 point-maker with eight as she got a bonus off the scoring rules when a Marble Falls’ player grabbed a rebound on a missed GHS free throw attempt and put the ball back up to score two points for Georgetown. The scoring rules give the points to the nearest offensive player. Georgetown trailed 12-10 at the end of the opening period, but tied the contest at 12-12 on a bucket by Hampton with 5:51 to go in the half and grabbed the lead for good at 14-12 on a rebound put-back by senior Mackenzy Mouton with 4:38 to go before the popcorn and nacho break. The Lady Eagles led 18-13 at the half. They outscored the Falls, 14-4, in both the third and fourth quarters.
After the GHS staff scouted College Station this past Monday in its one-sided win over Kingwood Park, Farney said that the Lady Cougars were a very good team and would present the Lady Eagles with a stern challenge. The Lady Cougars’ only district losses were back-to-back at the end of the first round of 19-5A play as they fell 54-49 to third-place Bryan Rudder and 66-65 to runner-up Magnolia West (29-8), which plays 18-5A champion East View (27-5) at 6 p.m. Friday in an area battle at Hearne. Five of College Station’s seven losses have been by two or fewer points. “At this point every team we play is a really good team, right, they made the playoffs for a reason,” College Station coach Megan Symank said. “We’re just happy to be able to walk out of our bi-district game and get to play for an area championship.”In discussing her bi-district victory with the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Symank said, “Throughout a lot of the game and in our rougher parts we had some unforced turnovers that we needed to clean up and ultimately I think we had a great defensive effort from our kids. We didn’t do a very good job of stealing today and that’s something we have to go back and we have to really focus on as we prepare to take the next step.”
In the win over Kingwood Park, the Lady Cougars got off to a slow start, but were up by 33 points in the third quarter. Senior Rebekah Hailey, who spearheaded the offensive spree, led College Station scoring with 12 points. Aliyah Collins and Mia Rivers supported Hailey with 11 and nine points, respectively.
***
LADY EAGLES PLAYOFF ROSTER
No. — Name (Cl., Pos., Ht.)
10 — Ella Vickers (Soph., guard, 5-3)
13 — Kylee Sander (Sr., guard, 5-6)
14 — Jacqui Spencer (Soph., guard, 5-10)
15 — Hailey Hanson (Sr., guard, 5-5)
22 — McCall Hampton (Sr., forward/post, 5-9)
24 — Kylie Ellsworth (Sr., guard, 5-6)
25 — Graci Harris (Jr., guard, 5-7)
30 — Mackenzy Mouton (Sr., forward/post, 6-0)
32 — Megan Herring (Jr., forward, 5-11)
33 — Mercedes Robledo (Sr., guard, 5-7)
42 — Lauren Woodard (Jr., forward/post, 5-11)
44 — Jordyn Stout (Jr., guard, 5-8)
54 — Keniah Williams (Soph., post, 6-3)
Captains: Hampton, Ellsworth, Mouton and Harris).
Mangers: Emyris Mims, Makayla Owens, Lizzette Rodriguez, Abigail Rutledge, Celeste Valdez.
Student trainers: Abigail Lamas, Alyssa Stock.
Head Coach: Rhonda Farney.
Assistant coaches: Tosha Doherty, Katie Youngblood and Corey Cunningham.
Athletic trainers: Vanessa Morales, Chad Hennessey.
***
LADY EAGLES SEASON TO DATE
(Current record: 26-9 season, 10-2 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
7 — Hutto* (w) 61-31
11 — East View* (l) 41-42
Bi-District
18 — Marble Falls (w) 46-21
* — 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.
***
COLLEGE STATION PLAYOFF ROSTER
No. — Name (Cl.)
10 — Mia Rivers (sr.)
11 — Aliyah Collins (so.)
12 — Rebekah Hailey (sr.)
13 — Kayce Wallace (Jr.)
14 — Na’layjah Johnson (jr.)
20 — Cornecia Thompson (jr.)
21 — Hadley House (sr.)
30 –Ruby Valasek (so.)
32 — Jaeden McMillin (fr.)
34 — Love Ryberg (jr.)
Na. — Tanijah Richardson (jr.)
Head coach: Megan Symank.
***
COLLEGE STATION SEASON TO DATE
(Current record: 27-7, 12-2 in District 19-5A)
NOTE: Results missing at least one victory)
Harker Heights (l) 57-64
Round Rock (w) 76-53
Katy Cinco Ranch (l) 61-63
Houston Kinkaid (w) 61-41
San Antonio MacArthur (w) 54-32
San Antonio Reagan (l) 45-46
Austin Westwood (w) 64-49
Tarkington (w) 76-36
Aldine Davis (w) 66-33
Lufkin (w) 61-21
Dallas Skyline (l) 45-46
Fort Worth Nolan (w) 64-22
Dallas South Oak Cliff (w) 43-40 OT
Southlake Carroll (l) 42-43
Katy Paetow* (w) 65-18
Brenham* (w) 74-29
Kyle Lehmann (w) 77-25
Huntsville (w) 65-25
Fort Bend Hightower (w) 58-26
Bryan Rudder (w) 73-67
Magnolia* (w) 64-38
Waller* (w) 77-50
A&M Consolidated* (w) 55-46
Bryan Rudder* (l) 49-54
Magnolia West* (l) 65-66
Katy Paetow* (w) 66-23
Brenham* (w) 87-32
Magnolia* (w) 67-45
Waller* (w) 71-64
A&M Consolidated * (w) 60-47
Bryan Rudder* (w) 72-62
Magnolia West* (w) 53-48
Bi-District
Humble Kingwood Park (w) 51-24
***
REGION III-5A BI-DISTRICT GAME
At Leander High School
GEORGETOWN 46, MARBLE FALLS 21
GHS (46) — Ella Vickers 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Sander 2-3 0-0 4, Jacqui Spencer 0-1 0-2 0, Hailey Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, McCall Hampton 7-16 2-5 16, Kylie Ellsworth 3-8 1-2 8, Graci Harris 0-3 4-4 4, Mackenzy Mouton 2-2 0-0 4, Mercedes Robledo 0-0 0-0 0. Lauren Woodard 5-8 0-1 10. Nia Williams 0-1 0-0 0 (Marble Falls’ Avie Nail scored two points for GHS, which was on the rules credited to the nearest Lady Eagle, Ellsworth). Totals: 19-38 7-14 46.
MARBLE FALLS (46) — Gia Lemon 0-3 0-0 0, Lillie Deeds 0-2 0-0 0, Kendall Ulbricht 1-4 0-0 3, Tea Rodriguez 0-4 0-0 0, Keelyn Ritchie 0-0 0-0 0, Rylie Ulbricht 5-12 3-4 13, Ellie Herrington 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Koziel 0-1 1-2, Alyssa Berkman 0-1 0-0 0, Ally Boland 0-0 0-0 0, Avie Nail 09-3 4-7 4, Lilly Nesrsta 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 6-43 8-13 21 (Note: Individual shooting totals do not match team totals).
Halftime: GHS, 18-13. 3-point shooting: GHS 1-4 (Ellsworth 0-3, Harris 0-1); MF 1-16 (R. Ulbricht 0-3, Herrington 0-1, K. Ulbricht 1-4, Nail 0-1, Rodriguez 0-1). Assists: GHS 14 (Harris 6, Sander 2, Spencer 2, Hampton 2, Ellsworth 2). Blocks: GHS 4 (Sander 1, Hampton 1, Woodard 1, Williams 1); MF 3. Rebounds: GHS 34 (Hampton 12, Woodard 7, Mouton 5, Harris 4); MF 11 (Lemon 4, Nesrsta 4). Steals: GHS 26 (Harris 7, Ellsworth 6, Hampton 4); MF 7 (Lemon 3). Turnovers: GHS 21, MF 26. Total fouls: GHS 17, MF 11. Records: Georgetown, 26-9; Marble Falls, 16-14.
***
REGION III-5A BI-DISTRICT RESULTS
(In bracket order)
TOP HALF
Bryan Rudder 58, Huntsville 49
Pflugerville Connally 74, Bastrop 46
College Station 51, Humble Kingwood Park 24
Georgetown 46, Marble Falls 21
Pearland Shadow Creek 98, Houston Austin 20
Galveston Ball 49, Port Neches-Groves 40
Richmond Foster 77, Houston Sharpstown 25
Baytown Goose Creek Memorial 47, Dayton 43
BOTTOM HALF
Georgetown East View 62, Pflugerville 54
Magnolia West 82, Montgomery Lake Creek 60
Cedar Park 65, Hutto 22
New Caney 58, College Station A&M Consolidated 39
Friendswood 70, Nederland 25
Manvel 75, Houston Northside 21
Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 67, Texas City 45
Fort Bend Hightower 60, Houston Sterling 19
REGION III-5A AREA PAIRINGS
(In bracket Order)
TOP HALF
Bryan Rudder vs. Pflugerville Connally, 7 p.m. Friday, Rockdale,
College Station vs. GEORGETOWN, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Cameron Yoe.
New Caney vs. Galveston Ball, 6 p.m. Friday, Phillips Fieldhouse, Pasadena.
Richmond Foster vs. Baytown Goose Creek Memorial, 7 p.m. Friday, Pearland Dawson.
BOTTOM HALF
Georgetown East View vs. Magnolia West, 6 p.m. Friday, Hearne.
Cedar Park vs. New Caney, 8 p.m. Friday, Hearne.
Friendswood vs. Manvel, 7 p.m. Friday, Alvin High School
Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill vs. Fort Bend Hightower, 6 p.m. Friday, La Porte High School.
***
TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
FINAL CLASS 5A GIRLS RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Feb. 17)
- Amarillo (32-2). 2. Cedar Park (29-3). 3. Red Oak (25-6). 4. Pearland Shadow Creek (29-4). 5. Mansfield Timberview (26-8). 6. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (26-7). 7. Corpus Christi Carroll (29-5). 8. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (31-4). 9. Fort Bend Hightower (28-6). 10. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (31-5). 11. Kerrville Tivy (28-5). 12. GEORGETOWN (25-9). 13. Jacksonville (23-8). 14. Lubbock Monterey (30-4). 15. Royse City (26-6). 16. El Paso Andress (27-4). 17. Denton Braswell (25-6). 18. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (24-8). 19. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (30-7). 20. San Antonio Harlan (29-5). 21. Huntsville (22-7). 22. McKinney North (20-8). 23. College Station (27-7). 24. Georgetown East View (26-5).25. Frisco Liberty (21-11).
Notes: Records provided by TABC.
***
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Feb. 17)
- Amarillo (32-2). 2. Cedar Park (29-3). 3. Pearland Shadow Creek (29-4). 4. Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill (31-4). 5. Red Oak (25-6). 6. Georgetown East View (26-5). 7. San Antonio Veterans Memorial (26-7). 8. Mansfield Timberview (26-8). 9. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (31-5). 10. Lubbock Monterey (30-4).
Note: TGCA has a different ranking format in the postseason.