Georgetown (26-4) and top-ranked Cedar Park (24-1) will collide at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Liberty Hill in the third meeting of the season between the first- and second-place teams in District 25-5A. However, this time the stakes are much higher. The Region IV-5A title contest will advance the winner to the state semifinals. The Region IV champion will play the Region III winner — either unbeaten Beaumont United (21-0) or College Station (24-3) — in the state semifinals on either Friday or Saturday. United and College Station will play at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cypress-Fairbanks High School.
Both Rhonda Farney’s Lady Eagles and Donny Ott’s Lady Timberwolves powered their way into the regional title showdown with one-sided victories in the semifinals. Georgetown bounced 31-5A champion Sharyland Pioneer, 42-28, this past Friday, and Cedar Park overpowered 32-5A winner Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, 61-39, on Saturday. “We are excited for our kids to get to play Cedar Park,” Farney said. “It’s great for Central Texas basketball and District 25-5A.” Cedar Park ran the table in 25-5A with a 14-0 mark, including two one-sided wins over GHS — 63-25 at the Timberdome and 39-20 at Eagle Gym. The Lady Eagles were 12-2 in the district. The Timberwolves’s only loss of the campaign was to 6A Cibolo Steele, 56-54, on November 13. In addition to the two district losses, Georgetown dropped non-district outings to Bryan Rudder, 51-44, on November 20 and to Waco La Vega, 43-41, on December 1.
In addition to the win over Pioneer, the Lady Eagles have moved up the playoff ladder with wins over San Antonio Veterans Memorial, 42-32; Castroville Medina Valley, 53-26; and Boerne Champion, 42-41. GHS has won their playoff games by an average of 13 points. The before besting Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, Cedar Park dominated Kerrville Tivy, 58-22; San Antonio Highlands, 92-44; and New Braunfels Canyon, 61-40. Its average victory margin in the playoffs has been 31.8 points a game. Cedar Park is led by 6-2 junior post-Shelby Hayes, 5-10 senior Alicia Knight, 5-10 sophomore Gisella Maul and 5-5 senior guard Sarai Estupian. Hayes has scored a combined 26 points in the two meetings with GHS, while Knight has put up 12 points in both games. Georgetown will counter CP with a starting five of 5-7 senior point guard Graci Harris, 5-9 junior guard Jacqui Spencer, 5-7 senior guard Morgan Larson, 5-10 senior forward Lauren Woodard, and 6-4 junior post Niah Williams. No GHS player has scored more than six points in either meeting between the two. Farney also has good depth with a backup group of 6-1 junior post-Sheila Lee, 5-9 senior forward Megan Herring, 5-8 senior guard Jordyn Stout, 5-5 junior guard Ella Vickers and 5-5 junior point guard Sam Folsom.
In Friday’s regional semifinal at Pleasanton, Georgetown, using a pair of 3-point buckets by Harris, jumped to a 10-0 lead in the initial four minutes and 29 seconds of the opening quarter, which the Lady Eagles finished up by a 13-2 count. They expanded the halftime margin to 12 points at 21-9. In the third period, GHS used a 3-pointer by senior Jordyn Stout and five points by senior forward Megan Herring to open a 17-point advantage at 33-16 The Lady Eagles kicked the margin up to a game-high 19 points at 37-18 early in the fourth quarter before a pair of 3-pointers helped pull the Diamondbacks within 14. For the record, GHS held a double-digit lead during the final 24 minutes and 54 seconds of the game.
“I’m excited about this team making the regional finals in so many ways,” Farney said. “We started well and I’m so proud of the girls. Out guards played well as did senior Megan Herring. Jordyn gave us a big push with a 3-pointer at the start of the second half. Our coaches did a phenomenal job. As a team, we’re a very congenial group with genuine respect and love for each other.” “We played a great team,” Sharyland coach Nicole Villarreal told the McAllen Monitor. “They shot the ball lights out and we couldn’t find the basket. It wasn’t a very good shooting night for us and we just weren’t as consistent as we have been. “We had to really worry about (their length) and make some adjustments to it, which made the spacing on the court different. We did a really good job of playing long possessions of defense, we were just outrebounded. . . . The nine points they had in the fourth quarter alone were all off second-chance opportunities or from the free-throw line.”
The Georgetown defense was responsible for much of Pioneer’s shooting problems — 29 percent (10 of 34, including four 18 beyond the arc. GHS claimed a 38-16 edge on the boards, blocked three shots, made 11 fewer turnovers, and had 11 more steals than the Diamondbacks Twenty of the Lady Eagles’ rebounds were offensive boards. GHS, which shot 34.8 percent, was led by Harris’s 13 points and nine by Herring. Williams and Spencer added six points each. Herring and Williams topped the rebounding chart with nine and eight, respectively. Pioneer’s Jordan Bravo was the night’s high scorer with 15 of her team’s points.
PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK: Georgetown will be the visiting team Tuesday night.
* The other two regional finals will match Lubbock Cooper against Plainview in Region I-5A Tuesday night in Littlefield and Wylie East against Frisco Liberty Tuesday night in McKinney.
* No tickets will be sold at the gate Tuesday night with the doors scheduled to open at 6 p.m. The web address to purchase tickets is https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/6071169/georgetown-visitorsvs-cedar-park-girls-basketball-playoffs-liberty-hill-liberty-hill-high-school-girls-basketball
* As of Monday, SHN was attempting to secure the broadcast rights for Tuesday’s game.
* In his rankings of the eight teams remaining in the 5A championship fight, Cedar Park was listed No. 1 and Georgetown was No. 6 (See complete poll below).
***
FRIDAY’S REGION IV-5A SEMIFINAL
At Pleasanton
GEORGETOWN 42, SHARYLAND PIONEER 28
PIONEER (28) — Danielle Rangel 0-4 0-0 0, Sophie Ponce de Leon 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Bravo 5-10 3-3 15, Audry Hornaday 2-9 1-2 7, Natalie Reyes 1-6 0-0 2, Carly Hornaday 1-3 0-0 2, Soleil Ashley 0-0 0-0 0, Hailey Silva 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 10-34 (29 percent) 4-5 (80 percent) 28.
GHS (42) — Ella Vickers 0-0 0-2 0, Niah Williams 3-6 0-1 6, Jacqui Spencer 3-8 0-0 6, Sam Folsom 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Larson 0-2 1-2 1, Graci Harris 4-12 2-3 13, Megan Herring 3-5 3-4 9, Jordyn Stout 1-2 0-0 3, Lauren Woodard 2-6 0-0 4, Sheila Lee 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 16-46 (34.8 percent) 6-12 (50 percent) 42.
Halftime: GHS, 21-9. 3-point shooting: SP, 4-18 (Rangel 0-4, Bravo 2-7, A. Hornaday 2-6, C. Hornaday 0-1); GHS, 4-14 (Spencer 0-3, Folsom 0-1, Larson 0-1, Harris 3-7, Stout 1-2). Assists: GHS, 8 (Harris 3, Woodard 3, Spencer 1, Lee 1). Rebounds: SP, 16, 3 offensive (A. Hornaday 3, C. Hornaday 3, Ashley 3); GHS, 38, 20 offensive (Herring 9, Williams 8, Larson 6, Woodard 5, Lee 3, Harris 3, Spencer 3, Vickers 1). Blocks: SP, 1; GHS, 3 (Williams 2, Lee 1). Steals: SP, 7 (Reyes 2, Rangel 2); GHS, 18 (Williams 5, Spencer 5, Harris 3, Stout 2, Herring 2, Folsom 1). Turnovers: SP, 20; GHS, 9. Total fouls: SP, 12; GHS, 9. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Officials: Concho Valley Chapter (San Angelo). Records: Sharyland Pioneer, 21-3; Georgetown, 26-4.
***
REGION 4-5A FINALS ROSTERS
GEORGETOWN LADY EAGLES
Head coach: Rhonda Farney
Assistants: Katie Youngblood, Tosha Doherty, Corey Cunningham.
No. — Name (Pos., Cl., Ht.)
10 — Ella Vickers (G, Jr., 5-5)
13 –Niah Williams (C, jr., 6-4)
14 — Jacqui Spencer (G, jr., 5-9)
15 — Sam Folsom (PG, jr., 5-5)
20 — Brooke White (G, so., 5-7)
22 — Erica Ramthun (G, so., 5-5)
24 — Morgan Larson (G, jr., 5-7)
25 — Graci Harris (PG, sr., 5-7)
30 — Taylor Meyners (G, so., 5-7)
32 — Megan Herring (F, sr., 5-9)
33 –Jordyn Stout (G, sr., 5-8)
35 –Madelyne Furr (F, so., 5-10)
42 — Lauren Woodard (F, sr., 5-10)
44 — Amiya Gonzales (G, so., 5-8)
50 — Sheila Lee (C, jr., 6-1)
INJ — Ainsley Pelczar (F, so., 5-9)
Managers: Lizzette Rodriguez, Makayla Owens, Abigail Rutledge, Emryis Mims, Daniel Cunningham, Jasmine Baltierra.
***
CEDAR PARK LADY TIMBERWOLVES
Head coach: Donny Ott
Assistants: Kami Williamson, JR Romero, Rebecca Zabel-Brewer
No. — Name (Pos., Cl., Ht.)
00 — Molly Ly (PG/G, so., 5-4)
2 –Sarai Estupinan (PG/G, sr., 5-4)
5 — Amesley Davis (DF, sr., 5-7)
10 — Elaine King (PF/W, jr., 5-11)
21 — Gisella Maul (PG/G, so., 5-10)
22 — Megan Woods (G/F, jr., 5-10)
23 — Alisa Knight (G/F, sr., 5-10)
24 — Madison Radke (PG/G. so., 5-8)
31 — Rece Merrill (G/F, jr., 6-0)
33 — Anna Minor (G/F, so., 5-7)
44 — Shelby Hayes (C/PF, jr., 6-2)
50 — Angie Sacco (F/P, jr., 5-10)
***
***
CEDAR PARK (24-1, 14-0)
Opponent (W/L, Score)
Temple (W, 68-22)
Austin SFA (W, 69-36)
Cibolo Steele (L, 54-56)
Austin Bowie (W, 71-13)
Lake Travis (W, 60-53)
College Station (W, 58-44)
Waco University (W, 92-22)
Marble Falls* (W, 53-11)
Leander Glenn* (W, 63-35)
East View* (W, 87-36)
Leander* (W, 75-23)
Liberty Hill* (W, 57-21)
Georgetown* (W, 63-25)
Marble Falls* (W, 77-30)
Leander* (W, 86-25)
Liberty Hill* (W, 71-33)
Georgetown* (W, 39-20)
East View* (W, forfeit)
Leander Rouse* (W, forfeit)
Leander Rouse* (W, forfeit)
Leander Glenn* (W, forfeit)
Bi-District
Kerrville Tivy (W, 58-22)
Area Round
San Antonio Highlands (W, 92-44)
Region IV-5A Quarterfinal
New Braunfels Canyon (W, 61-40)
Region IV-5A Semifinal
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (W, 61-39)
***
REGION IV-5A PLAYOFF BRACKET
BI-DISTRICT
(In bracket order)
Top Half
Castroville Medina Valley 64, S.A. Sam Houston 41
Georgetown 42, S.A. Veterans Memorial 32
Southside 57, S.A. Jefferson 49
Boerne Champion 59, Leander Glenn 58
Brownsville Veterans Memorial 52, McAllen 27
Victoria East 78, Laredo Martin 28
Sharyland Pioneer 48, Brownsville Pace 31
Victoria West 49, Roma 27
Bottom Half
New Braunfels Canyon 51, Leander Rouse 45
S.A. Lanier 87, S.A. Harlandale 46
Cedar Park 58, Kerrville Tivy 22
S.A. Highlands 68, S.A. Southwest Legacy 58
Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 31, Rio Grande City 22
McAllen Memorial 64, Donna 51
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 78, Laredo Cigarroa 47
McAllen Rowe 44, Edcouch-Elsa 35
***
AREA RESULTS
(In bracket order)
Georgetown 53, Castroville Medina Valley 26
Boerne Champion 75, S.A. Southside 44
Victoria East 57, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 33
Sharyland Pioneer 38, Victoria West 35
***
New Braunfels Canyon 70, S.A> Lanier 44
Cedar Park 92, S.A. Highlands 44
McAllen Memorial 40. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 36
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 67, McAllen Rowe 27
***
REGIONAL QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
(In bracket order)
Georgetown 42, Boerne Champion 41
Sharyland Pioneer 58, Victoria East 53
Cedar Park 61, New Braunfels Canyon 40
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 62, McAllen Memorial 27
***
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS
(In bracket order)
Georgetown 42 Sharyland Pioneer 28
Cedar Park 61, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial 39
***
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Georgetown (26-4) vs. Cedar Park (24-1), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Liberty Hill
OTHER 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
(In bracket order)
Region I-5A
Lubbock Cooper 80, Canutillo 24
Mansfield Legacy 49, Grapevine 28
Plainview 69, Amarillo Tascosa 63
Wichita Falls Rider 53, Lake Dallas 52
Region II-5A
Frisco Liberty 33, Frisco Memorial 28
North Forney 50, Royse City 47
Wylie East 50, Frisco Lone Star 42
Red Oak 54, Highland Park 48
Region III-5A
College Station 58, Humble Kingwood Park 37
Richmond Foster, bye
Pflugerville Hendrickson 70, College Station A&M Consolidated 48
Beaumont United 56, Manvel 34
OTHER REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
Region I
Lubbock Cooper 59, Mansfield Legacy 54
Plainview 70, Wichita Falls 56
Region II
Frisco Liberty 49, North Forney 30
Wylie East 65, Red Oak 60
Region III
College Station 55, Richmond Foster 45
Beaumont United 55, Pflugerville Hendrickson 44
OTHER REGIONAL FINALS
Region I
Lubbock Cooper vs. Plainview, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Littlefield.
Region II
Frisco Liberty vs. Wylie East, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, McKinney High School.
Region III
College Station vs. Beaumont United, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Cypress-Fairbanks High School.
***
TEXAS GIRLS COACHES ASSOCIATION
CLASS 5A POLL
(Limited to teams that reached the regional finals)
- Cedar Park. 2. Beaumont United. 3. College Station. 4. Lubbock Cooper. 5. Wylie East. 6. GEORGETOWN. 7. Plainview. 8. Frisco Liberty.