Georgetown coach Rhonda Farney wasn’t about to allow a personal milestone to become a potential millstone in her Lady Eagles’ drive for the school’s 31st consecutive trip to the UIL girls state playoffs in her 33 seasons at GHS. Until the 48-29 victory over Marble Falls Friday night at Eagle Gym was recorded it was the priority over the 1,200th victory of her 45-season high school coaching career. To put the accomplishment in perspective that’s an average of 26.67 victories for every one of those seasons. The 1,200 wins make Farney the winningest active girls high school basketball coach in both the nation and Texas. With just 340 career losses, Farney has a career winning percentage of .779, including her early coaching positions at Goldthwaite (10 seasons) and Ozona (two seasons).
In the practicality of the 25-5A race, the fifth-ranked Lady Eagles’ second win of the season over the Lady Mustangs improved Georgetown’s district record to 7-1 and season reading to 17-3. Realistically, GHS is within one or two victories in its final six games of claiming the coveted playoff berth. The Lady Eagles are facing a taxing three-game week. playing arch-rival East View at 8 p.m. Tuesday and road games with Leander at 8 p.m. Friday and at Leander Rouse at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rouse game is a make-up date for a game postponed on December 22 by the Raiders’ Covid-19 quarantine. GHS downed East View (3-5), 47-32, and Leander (0-8), 57-23 in the first round of district play. “I don’t want any advanced publicity that would have put pressure on our girls,” Farney said prior to the Marble Falls game as she tried to keep her team focused on the basic task ahead. “It was a mess a couple of years ago when the media made this a circus. Actually, all I want is the game ball, beautiful photos and things to be reported accurately. “My hope is that all of the facts could be accurate because there are so many different records, floating around.”
In a post-game interview, Farney said she was happy to get the milestone behind her with a tough regular-season and a potential trip to the state playoff facing her Lady Eagles and thanked numerous persons in the Goldthwaite, Ozona, and Georgetown communities including former players, parents, assistant coaches, administrators, booster club members and Sun City fans in helping to build a school culture at GHS for a successful girls’ basketball program. Both the National Federation of High School State Associations and the Texas Girls Coaches Association recognize Leta Andrews (Gustine; Comanche; Corpus Christi Calallen; Granbury), 1,416-355, and Joe Lombard (Nazareth and Canyon), 1,344-124, as the coaches with the most career wins nationally and in Texas. Both are retired. Farney’s current total of 1,200 wins would place her sixth on the NFHS listing and fifth on the TGCA’s state records. Other Texas coaches with 1,200 wins are Jerry English (Pflugerville; Sweeny; Dripping Springs; Marble Falls Faith Academy), 1,227; and Dean Weese (Spearman and Levelland), 1,207.
Ten of Farney’s teams at Georgetown have won 30 or more games, including their Class 4A State Championship run in 2012-13. That squad posted s 34-4 mark, claiming a 65-60 come-from-behind win over Dallas Lincoln in the state finals. As for the victory over Marble Falls, Farney said, “I thought Marble Falls played us really well. They are the youngest team in the district. They played us physically inside. Right now, we need to keep our focus on the district race.” Georgetown, which has won 11 of its last 12 games, jumped to a 12-2 lead in the first period as junior guard Ella Vickers hit on two 3-pointers. The tree remained a major weapon as senior point guard Graci Harris and senior guard added two more 3-pointers as the Lady Eagles constructed a 25-9 halftime lead. GHS closed out the game by outscoring the Lady Mustangs, 23, 20 in the second half. Harris and 6-4 junior post-Niah Williams led the GHS attack with 10 points, and the 5-5 Vickers added eight. the Lady Eagles shot 43 percent from the floor, while holding Marble Falls, now 1-7 in the district and 3-13 for the season, to 28 percent from the floor (9 of 32).
Georgetown outrebounded Marble Falls, 25-23, with Williams pulling down seven boards and blocking three shots. The Lady Eagles made 19 steals (five by Williams), forcing a total of 27 turnovers. Tea Rodriguez led MF with nine points and was the only Lady Mustang to score more than five points. The postgame celebration for Farney’s feat was coordinated by DeAnn Rutledge.
Coach Katie Youngblood’s Freshman Blue improved their district and season records to 7-0 and 14-2 Friday night with a 42-26 victory over a scrappy Marble Falls team that outscored GHS, 19-18, in the second half after trailing 24-7 at the half. Post-Aspen Mayo scored a GHS career-high with 15 points to lead the Lady Eagles as guard Caroline Rutledge and Lucy Waring added 11 and 10 points, respectively. For the third straight playing date, the undefeated Georgetown JV had an open date as Cedar Park, Leander Glenn, and Marble Falls either were in a Covid-19 quarantine or elected not to play. The Lady Eagles claimed a forfeit victory over Marble Falls. Both the JV and freshman teams are scheduled to play all of their three games this week.
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FRIDAY’S 25-5A VARSITY GAME
At Eagle Gym
GEORGETOWN 48, MARBLE FALLS 29
MF (29) — Ainsley Steward 0-0 0-0 0, Gia Lemon 1-3 3-3 5, Tea Rodriguez 2-6 4-6 9, Mackenzie Farmer 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Koziel 3-3 0-0 4, Isabelle Mills 1-3 0-2 2, Clarissa Mata 0-0 0-0 90, Alyssa Berkman 1-7 2-2 4, Elizabeth Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Weems 0-0 0-0 0, Lexi Edwards 2-7 1-6 5. Totals: 9-32 (28 percent) 10-19 (52 percent) 29.
GHS (48) — Ella Vickers 2-5 2-2 8, Niah Williams 5-6 0-0 10, Jacqui Spencer 3-5 0-0 6, Sam Folsom 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Larson 0-1 0-0 0, Graci Harris 3-8 1-2 10, Megan Herring 2-6 1-1 5, Jordyn Stout 1-3 0-0 3, Lauren Woodard 0-2 1-4 1, Sheila Lee 2-5 1-5 5. Totals: 18-41 (43 percent) 6-14 (42 percent) 48.
Halftime: GHS, 25-7. 3-point shooting: MF, 1-9 (Rodriguez 1-3, Berkman 0-6); GHS, 6-12 (Vickers 2-5, Harris 3-4, Stout 1-3). Assists: GHS, 18 (Spencer 5, Harris 3, Vickers 3, Williams 2, Stout 2). Rebounds: MF, 23, 10 offensive (Lemon 7, Rodriguez 5, Edwards 5); GHS, 25, 8 0ffensive (Williams 7, Vickers 3, Larson 3, Harris 3). Blocks: MF, 2 (Edwards 2); GHS, 4 (Williams 3, Lee 1). Steals: FM 9 (Lemon 3)’ GHS 19 (Williams 5, Harris 4. Spencer 3, Woodard 3). Turnovers: MF, 27; GHS 14. Total fouls: MF, 15; GHS 18. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Records: Marble Falls, 1-7 in 25-5A, 3-13 season; GHS, 7-1 in 25-5A, 17-3 season.
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FRIDAY’S 25-5A SUB-VARSITY GAME
At Eagle Gym
(GHS scoring only)
Freshman A Game
GEORGETOWN BLUE 42, MARBLE FALLS 29
GHS (42) — Ashley Valverde 1 0-0 2, Bella Flowers 0 0-0 0, Caroline Rutledge 5 0-3 11, Melodi Valdez 0 0-0 0, Maddie Sherbrook 0 0-0 0, Lucy Waring 4 2-5 10, Ava Linyard 0 0-0 0, Gabby Phillips 2 0-0 4, Aspen Mayo 7 1-4 15. Totals: 19 3-12 42. Halftime: GHS, 24-7. 3-point baskets made: Rutledge 1. GHS records: 7-0 in 25-5A; 14-2 season.
Junior Varsity
Georgetown takes a forfeit win from Marble Falls, which did not field a team.
DISTRICT 25-5A AT A GLANCE
(Schedules subject to change)
Standings — Cedar Park, 8-0; Georgetown, 7-1; Leander Glenn, 6-3; Leander Rouse, 3-2; East View, 3-5; Liberty Hill, 3-5; Marble Falls, 1-7; Leander, 0-8.
Friday’s results: Georgetown 48, Marble Falls 29; Glenn 44, East View 39; Liberty Hill 45, Rouse 40.
Saturday’s results: Cedar Park 86, Leander 25.
Tuesday’s games: East View at Georgetown, 8 p.m.; Cedar Park at Liberty Hill, 8 p.m.; Rouse at Glenn, 8 p.m.; Marble Falls at Leander, 8 p.m.
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DISTRICT 26-5A STANDINGS
(Based on San Antonio Express-News, Max Preps reports)
(25-5A plays 26-5A in bi-district).
New Braunfels Canyon, 10-1; San Antonio Veterans Memorial, 8-2; Boerne Champion, 8-2; Kerrville Tivy, 7-4; Dripping Springs, 2-5; Seguin, 2-5; Buda Johnson, 1-5; Kyle Lehman, 1-6; Alamo Heights, 0-9.
Friday’s results: Boerne Champion 54, Dripping Springs 39; New Braunfels Canyon 61, Alamo Heights 25; Kerrville Tivy 57, Kyle Lehman 26, San Antonio Veterans Memorial vs. Kyle Lehman, ppd.; Seguin, bye.
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UPCOMING LADY EAGLES SCHEDULES
(Subject to change)
VARSITY
Tuesday — East View, 8 p.m. Friday — at Leander, 8 p.m. Saturday — at Rouse, 2 p.m.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Tuesday — East View, 6:30 p.m. Friday — at Leander, 6:30 p.m. Saturday — at Rouse, 12:30 p.m.
FRESHMAN BLUE
Tuesday — East View, 5:15 p.m. Friday — Leander, 5:15 p.m. Saturday — at Rouse, 11 a.m.
FRESHMAN WHITE
Season completed.
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TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released Monday, Jan. 18)
- Cedar Park, 14-1; 2. College Station, 16-2; 3. Humble Kingwood Park, 18-0; 4. Wichita Falls Rider, 17-2; 5. GEORGETOWN, 17-3; 6. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (18-2); 7. Mansfield Legacy, 18-1; 8. Lubbock Cooper, 17-3; 9. Pflugerville Hendrickson, 14-2; 10. Amarillo, 13-2; 11. Richmond Foster, 15-2; 12. Red Oak, 17-4; 13. Wylie East, 17-3; 14. Castroville Medina Valley, 18-3; 15. Lake Dallas, 14-4; 16. Beaumont United, 10-0; 17. Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 14-2; 18. Frisco Lone Star, 11-4; 19. McKinney North, 14-4; 20. Frisco Memorial, 16-4; 21. Plainview, 15-5; 22. New Braunfels Canyon, 16-2; 23. Grapevine, 15-4; 24. Midlothian, 10-4; 25. Sharyland Pioneer (9-2).
Note: Records supplied by the TABC.
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TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A RANKINGS
(Released on Monday, Jan. 18)
- Cedar Park, 14-1; 2. Humble Kingwood Park, 18-0; 3. Beaumont United, 11-0; 4. College Station, 15-2; 5. Richmond Foster, 16-2; 6. Mansfield Legacy, 18-1; 7. Pflugerville Hendrickson, 14-2; 8. Plainview, 15-5; 9. Amarillo, 13-2; 10. GEORGETOWN, 17-3. 11. Fort Worth Wyatt, 17-2; 12. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 18-2; 13. New Braunfels Canyon, 16-2; 14. El Paso Andress, 11-1; 15. Bryan Rudder, 13-2; 16. Lubbock Cooper, 17-3; 17. Castroville Medina Valley, 18-3; 18. Wylie East, 16-3; 19. Lake Dallas, 14-4; 20. Frisco Lone Star, 11-4; 21. McKinney North, 14-4; 22. El Paso Hanks, 10-1; 23. Wichita Falls Rider, 16-2; 24. San Antonio Jefferson, 16-3; 25. Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 14-2.
Note: Records supplied by the TGCA.