CHRISTOVAL, TX -- The Christoval Lady Cougars third quarter comeback led to a 42-35 district championship-clinching win over the Forsan Lady Buffs.
Both teams started the game hot. Forsan hit four-three pointers in the first quarter, but Graci Jones' two three-pointers gave the Lady Cougars a one-point advantage. They led at the end of the first 15-14.
The second quarter was great for the Lady Buffaloes. They kept the same pace as the first quarter while tightening up on defense. Sterling Baker for Christoval started to get some rythym going before the half, but lost the lead at 27-22.
Christoval coming out of the half looked unstoppable. The held Forsan to just two points in the third. They also managed to score ten and retake their lead at 32-29.
Baker closed out the game for the Lady Cougars with five points in the quarter. The Lady Buffaloes only had six.
Baker finished the game with 18 points. Kayce Jackson was the only other Lady Cougar in double figures with 10.
Christoval (21-10, 9-0) will look to maintain their unblemished district record when they travel to rival Eldorado on Feb. 5.
No. 1 Wall Claims 11th Straight District Championship Outright
The no. 1-ranked Wall Lady Hawks claimed their 11th consecutive district title with a 55-19 rout of Ballinger on Friday.
The Lady Hawks put their patented defense to work early, holding the Lady Bearcats to six points in the first quarter and none in the second to take a 29-6 lead into halftime. Sam Rocha's 13 points in the first half led Wall to that margin.
Wall then used a balanced scoring regimen to extend their lead to 47-11 going into the fourth quarter. Seven players scored points for the Lady Hawks in a quarter highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Abby Alexander. Kinlee Bowman had all five points in the third for Ballinger.
Emma Toliver provided a bright spot for the Lady Bearcats, hitting a pair of threes and scoring eight points in the fourth quarter. Jayden Fiebiger had four points for Wall in the quarter to help the Lady Hawks match Ballinger.
Rocha's 13 points were a game-high. Fiebiger finished with 10 and as the only other Lady Hawk in double figures.
Toliver had Ballinger's team-high mark of eight points. Bowman finished with seven.
Wall (26-1, 12-0) will travel to non-district foe and Class 2A no. 6-ranked San Saba on Feb. 5.
No. 3 Mason Dominates Junction for District Title
The no. 3-ranked Mason Cowgirls dominated from start to finish in a 65-24 win over Junction that clinched the District 27-2A crown.
Ruby Mangus kicked off the scoring clinic with 13 first quarter points to help Mason to a 21-5 lead after the first quarter.
McKenzie Cano and Presley Anastas then joined the festivities in the second. Cano tallied nine points while Anastas had a three-pointer and seven points to put the Cowgirls up 45-10 at halftime.
The Cowgirls were more subdued in the third quarter, only scoring nine points. Four of those came from Mangus.
Four points from Lauren Olson highlighted an 11-point fourth quarter for Mason, sealing the win.
Mangus finished as the game's top scorer with 19 points. Cano was the only other Cowgirl to score double figures with 10.
Chloe Jackowski finished with 14 points for Junction.
Mason (31-1, 7-0) now sits on a 24-game winning streak heading into their season finale against Center Point on Feb. 5.
Junction (2-15, 2-5) will close out the season at home against Harper on Feb. 5.
Central Goes Cold at Richland
The Central Lady Cats suffered a big blow to their district title hopes in a 42-30 loss at Fort Worth Richland.
The Lady Cats shot 23.7 percent from the field in their second district loss of the year.
Central was held to just two points in the first quarter, leaving them behind 7-2 entering the second quarter.
They found a bit of a rhythm in the second, scoring nine points. But Richland also got hot with 13 points to take a 20-11 lead into halftime.
That scoring pattern continued in the third, as Richland moved ahead to 33-20.
Central's 10 points wasn't enough for a comeback with Richland notching nine points in the final frame.
Central (26-7, 9-2) falls into a tie for second place with Richland, but still holds a shot at a share of the district championship with one-loss Hurst Bell. Central will host Bell on Feb. 5.
Robert Lee Books Playoff Trip Despite Coulter's Valiant Effort for Sterling City
Dally Coulter's 22 points wasn't enough for the Sterling City Lady Eagles in a 45-22 loss to Robert Lee. The win clinched a playoff berth for Robert Lee since Water Valley lost to Veribest.
The first quarter was all Coulter for Sterling City, literally. She scored all 10 points for Sterling City, which was four points more than the Lady Steers.
The Lady Steers took over the game from that point on. Kelby Clawson had eight points in the quarter, and the defense found a way to stop Coulter to take a 21-12 lead at the half.
Coulter was only able to score one basket in the third quarter. As for the Lady Steers, they shared the ball well and were able to get multiple names on the score sheet to extend their lead 34-14.
The fourth quarter was competitive since Coulter got back in rhythm. She hit two three-pointers, but it wasn't enough as Robert Lee found 11 more points.
Clawson led the way for Robert Lee with 14 points.
Coulter had the game-high mark with her 22 points.
Robert Lee moves to 8-3 in District 11-1A, a game-and-a-half ahead of Water Valley with one game left to play. They'll close out their regular season on Feb. 5 when they host Irion County.
Sterling City falls to 0-10 heading into their season finale at Bronte on Feb. 5.
Veribest Dashes Water Valley's Playoff Hopes
The Water Valley Lady Cats fell 61-55 to the Veribest Lady Falcons on Friday, ending their playoff push.
As the first quarter began, it was clear the game would be neck and neck throughout the entire game. In the first quarter Water Valley’s Kenzie Jordan and Veribest’s Catlyn Ward would battle it out, and lead their teams with six points each in the first.
As the second quarter began it was apparent that both teams would get into foul trouble fairly early in tonight’s game. However, the Lady Falcons would take the lead early in the second after sophomore Chloe Herrera accounts for nine of the Falcons 22 second quarter points compared to Water Valley's 12. After routing the Lady Cats in the second quarter the Falcons took a 35-26 lead heading into halftime.
Going into the third quarter the Falcons would hold onto their nine-point lead by holding Water Valley's offense to just 11 points and ending the third with a 46- 37 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, play makers from both teams would end up in foul trouble. As Veribest’s offense looked to keep their lead in the fourth, Water Valley attempted a comeback by moving within three points with three minutes, 30 seconds left to play.
After two back-to-back foul-outs from both teams, and clutch free throws in crunch time, Veribest would add to their lead and pull away to end the game with the victory.
Veribest (20-6, 9-2) holds their first place tie with Blackwell, setting up a district championship meeting at Veribest on Feb. 5.
Water Valley's season comes to a close.
Scores from around the area:
- Miles 48, Eldorado 40
- Garden City 34, Grady 23
- Blackwell 46, Bronte 25
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