Final Four Preview |
5A Semi-Finals
Cedar Hill vs Cy Fair
Hightower vs SA Jay
Kiara Taylor of the SA Jay Mustangs |
Erica Donavan and the SA Jays
look to continue their dream season! |
| SA Jay Mustang Head Coach Mike Floyd had this to say about his team, "Some of our key players are #2 – Destiny Amezquita (Freshman) who was named newcomer of the year in our district. Destiny has great court awareness and is a sharpshooter and plays like a much more experienced player. You gotta love the tough nosed defender #14 Kiara Taylor a junior. Kiara is our team’s defensive specialist and a great jump shooter. And of course junior #21 – Erica Donovan who is a beast on the boards and an aggressive offensive and defensive player, Erica is an All-State Player. Our girls’ team has never made it to the final four and we are proud to be the first." |
Freshmen sensation Destiny Amezquita |
| This year's final four for 5A has some wonderful stories at hand as the Bobcats are back for the fourth year in a row. Andrea Robinson has to be one of the top candidates for coach of the year having moved over from her state championship Dunbar program to lead Cedar Hill to the toughest regional championship in Texas (5A region 1). The Canes of Hightower have stood as one of the top teams in the state all season and many in Houston think they can pull this thing off. The SA Jays have never been to the dance and have to be considered major underdogs. We are going out on limb and predicting that Cedar Hill wins the state championship but this final four is very hard to call. |
The top player in Texas
Chiney Ogwumike of the Cy Fair Bobcats |
We asked Cy Fair Head Coach Ann Roubique about her star players Chiney Ogwumike and Cassie Peoples and she said, "Chiney is very athletic, great leader on and off the floor, has a good head on her shoulders. Does a good job keeping a calm with the team. Cassie Peoples, handles the point position very well, likes to be in the middle of every play and tough minded kid. She wants to be on the floor. But you also have to watch out for Aarika Reyna, plays 2 guard and 1 when needed. She shoots well and is one of the better defenders on the floor."
We the asked her about who she thought had the advantage and she said, "Right now I think it's a matter of who's playing well, and not so much on having won it before. The team that keeps their composure in tight spots and can make the most stops has an advantage."
Coach Roubique also shared her favorite moment from the season saying, "On our way back from a tournament in Clear Creek, an hour and fifteen minute bus ride turned into a three hour trip. Being that Christmas was right around the corner the team put the windows down and decided to sing Christmas Carols to our fellow stranded mortorists. Some of them joined in and some rolled up their windows. The kids couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't want to hear them sing."
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4A Semi-Finals
Wakeland vs Del Valle
Timberview vs Steele
Steele's Meighan Simmons is the best
offensive player in Texas! |
Jessica Peralez of the Del Valle Cardinals |
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| Wakeland Head Coach Darilyn Krempin had this to say about their team, "Our season really pivots on some key players. #21 Haley Texada....junior point that has been starting for me since she was a freshman. Haley is a great kid who works hard and would do anything I asked of her. It has been great to see her develop into the leader she is over the past three years. #33 Jackie Patterson......6'1" senior post is a very athletic and dynamic force for us on the court. #12 Kindell Texada......a true freshman that has stepped up and been a huge defensive threat. #5 Faith Hunt....sophomore....missed her freshman year due to torn ACL...but has come back and is a very strong defensive and physical player. And of course #30 Jasmine Patterson.....senior foward.....athletic.....good rebounder and the team work horse. Our school has only been open for four years and we are proud to have made it to state so quickly." |
Wakeland after their regional championship! |
| The story in 4A is that Timberview comes in her as a HUGE favorite to win the title. They have knocked out the #2 team in state (Canyon) twice and they should prove to be too much for the other three. But the other three have stories of their own and that's why we play the games because crazy things can happen. Wakeland isn't the only surprise team to make it to the drum in 4A as they are joined by the tiny Cardinals of Del Valle. Tawni Angel is one of the state's premier basketball coaches who always gets the most out of her kids. Look for Del Valle to try to run the slow down game and control the tempo. Steel returns for a third time but must thrown down in game one with a brutal match-up that they did not handle a year facing Timberview. It's going to be fun to watch! |
3A Semi-Finals
Wylie vs Giddings
Liberty-Eylau vs Madisonville
| Trying to pick the 3A this year is crazy tough with Giddings a clear underdog in the group and the other three all looking like they have an even shot at this thing. Wylie probably has the advantage assuming that they roll Giddings, which the Buffs of course plan to avoid. But in the end we predict that Liberty-Eylau claims the crown. |
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Madisonville Head Coach Shana Taylor says, "Madisonville has never been to state before in it's history or myself. This is the first time we've made an appearance. Last year we made it to the Regional semi-finals and lost in a hard fought battle to Diboll. This entire group of girls are special. The seniors are an awesome group of ladies who always showed promise that they would be on this stage one day. Chasity Young, Unique Johnson, and Adrianna Gilbert have been the core of this team for the past two years. Chasity has been the leading scorer and rebounder for the past 3 years. Unique is unique. She is the motor and heart of the team with her defense, offense and all the intangibles. Adrianna is our offensive machine. She scored five 3 pointers in the Regional semi-finals. Brittney Smith is our junior point guard and she has been outstanding throughout the playoffs. She was awarded All-tournament at the Regional tourney. And lastly, Lisa Nealey is our freshman forward whose play throughout the season just keeps on getting better. Lisa was awarded MVP in the Regional tournament. |
2A Semi-Finals
Wall vs Poth
Brock vs Leon
| 2A on the other hand is the easiest call on the board and the only classification where last year's state champ is still in position to repeat. Brock will win it all again but not until they win a VERY close game in the finals against Wall. |
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Leon Head Coach Johnie Foley says, "Eleven of our players are special and bring a much needed aspect to our team concept. Sophomore Allison Carrigan is our leading scorer and has hit 78 3-pointers this season to go along with 9.5 rebounds per game. Senior Elissa Downey is our top defensive player with 4 steals a game and also chips in with 4.5 rebounds and 9 points per game. Junior Ashley Shuldham is our top rebounder and averages a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points per game. Senior Monique Dorsey is our slasher who averages 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game. Sophomore Kori Charlton is our point guard who runs the show with over 4 assists and 9 rebounds a game. Our reserves, seniors Kendle Charlton, Jentry Clary, C.C. Grayson and Sophomore Chelby Stanford chip in for a combined 13.5 points and 15.5 rebounds per game to go along with 55 3-pointers from the bench during the season. This is our first trip to the State Basketball Tournament in school history and also my first trip as a coach. I'll never forget our most amazing game this year was a miracle comeback aginst our district rival Marlin. We were 12 points down with 53 seconds left in the game and came back to win when Monique Dorsey sank two free throws with .22 seconds remaining to win 59-58. From that moment on the girls believed anything was possible if you never give up." |
Brock's Kamy Cole is one of the best sophomore basketball players in Texas! |
Johnie Foley's regional championship team from Leon |
DI Semi-Finals
Muenster vs Martins Mill
Smyer vs Louise
| We thought DI was an easy pre-season pick, but Smyer put pie in our face and knocked off the Nettes for the region 1 championship. Now this thing is more wide open than any classification on the board. Martins Mill has the longest current streak in the state as they return to the show for the fifth year in a row. Louise will try for the tri-fecta having won state in track and volleyball in the last 12 months now they look to add basketball. Muenster has a solid tradition of basketballl and looks for their first title. We're picking Martins Mill because they carry the experience factor. |
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Muenster Head Coach Jason Atcheson says, "The best thing about our team is that we have 5 girls who can score. Most people will focus on Taylor Klement, our post, and Shaina Felderhoff but Lia and Lana Heers can score as well as Demi Koelzer. I think the thing that makes them special is that we really are a team in every sense of the word. We share the ball very well. Muenster has been to the final four 3 times before this in 1993, 2004, 2005. We have never won a state championship. I got to experience the thrill of such a victory as an assistant at China Spring in 2006 when we won the state championship. One of the neat things that has happened in our playoff run is we put in a new play and called it sunshine. I guess because of this play the team started singing I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day. When we left the hotel for the regional semi-final and final game the team sang the song to our fans before we left. After the regional final the team and our crowd started singing it and turn the my girl part into my team. It was pretty neat and may see a repeat chorus in the Erwin Center."
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Nikki Gholson leads the Lady Cats into Austin!
Smyer Head Coach LeLand Bearden says, "Our funniest moment is one we hope to avoid when we run out under the lights in Austin. At our Whiteface game we were running out and freshman Kennedy Farr triped over her own feet and created a dominio effect as we all stumbled our way on to the court." |
Smyer's Jesse Daniel with the block!
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Smyer Lady Cat Haley Fowler |
DII Semi-Finals
Turkey-Valley vs Neches
McLean vs Leggett |
This classification will have three great games on display and in the end we have to go with Neches you has held our #1 ranking most of the season. |
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