HOUSTON AREA RESULTS

R3-5A

HIGHTOWER(70) BELLAIRE(64)

Brittney Matthews and AJ Alix were two of the main reasons Hightower and Bellaire made it this far. Matthews was ice against North Shore and hit some big shots against Westside in route to the finals. Alix led a double digit come from behind win over Elsik, scoring 35 points. Today, she dropped 40 on center stage!

Azaela Hall's 15 points held off Westside and stopped an all HISD R3 Final

The Gilbert twins, Taylor and Tyler, were unstoppable in the first half. They combined for 20 of Hightowers 35 points and added 16 rebounds between them. For the game, Tyler finished with 21 points, Taylor 17, both added 15 rebounds.

Jasmine Brewer has been the glue for the Hurricanes all season and Hightower's leading scorer for the year added 12 today. Bellaire's Kemi Omotola doesn't score much for the Cardinals but her presence was felt and her teams success wouldn't have happened had she not played her part this season.

Bianca Winslow and Raven Burns both added 12 points for Bellaire and along with Alix, combined for all 64 points.

Bellaire is young and they will be back. AJ, Brianna Jolivet, Carli Walton and Shandice Waugh are all freshmen. Burns, Winslow and Regina Harris were only sophomores.

Freshman Alana Heard shows promise and played huge while Matthews was in foul trouble. Hightower will be strong again next season.

REAL DEAL!!!!

I love patting myself on the back and once again, as I stated earlier at the start of the season, this team would go as far as AJ could take them. She scored 17 of her 40 points in the third quarter when the "CARDIAC KIDS" were down by double digits.

R3-4A

DEL VALLE(43) LA MARQUE (33)

This was a game that at times almost put me to sleep in the first half. La Marque laid back in a zone as Del Valle ran almost 4 minutes off the clock in the second period as a total of 7 combined points were scored between the two teams. Jaleesa Allen and Summer Postell appear to be restless.

Allen is a big gun for the Cougars and is swarmed by three Cardinals.

Jessica Palmer is pointing out instructions, she was high scorer for the Cougars with 11.

Brianna Lewis kept the Cougars withing striking distance, dropping three-three pointers.

Senior Joslinnn Douglas was all over the court, scoring 14 for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals Monique McElveen was unstoppable with her double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.

BACK TO STATE!!!

R-2 5A

CY FAIR (54) BRYAN(50)

FOUR IN A ROW FOR CHINEY

17 points 12 rebounds

TAPPS 4A

WESTBURY CHRISTIAN-STATE CHAMPIONS

The amazing Amber Orrange averaged 25.5 points in her last two playoff games this season, scoring 36 in Friday nights 65-53 victory over Fort Worth Christian and added 15 in the 73-68 championship win Saturday against Argyle Liberty Christian. Fallon Ellis led the scoring assault for WC with 21 and Letecia Cuellar's 14 plus Tyranni Henderson's 12 gave WC four players in double figures for the "BIG ONE". This also closed a chapter for head coach Reed Sutton who will move on to coach at Faulkner College in Montgomery Alabama. Good luck and great job!

Houston Area Elite 8's

REGION 3- 4A

Yates is still undefeated after two rounds and appears to be headed to the Final Four in Region 3-4A. To get there, they have to beat sister HISD school Booker T Washington. Washington is led by Lereahn Washington, one of the leading scorers in the city.

Mariah Lee has been the catalyst for this super athletic team and they will go as far as she can take them.

Barbers Hill lost PG Shannon Evans to a knee injury late in the season, however the Carter cousins, Paris and Jasmine, along with one of the top posts in the state, Kendall Shaw, have them still climbing the HILL.

Worthing, the third HISD team still in the hunt, is led by another one of the top scorers in the city, Jenzel Nash, who along with Shirley McGowen form an impressive dynamic duo on offense. Their team defense is second to none, they come at you in droves the whole game.

REGION 3-5A

Northshore vs Hightower
This is probably the most anticipated matchup of the season. I know Hightower has beat North Shore both times they played this season. I also know Hightower has beat every team they played this season that made the playoffs, with the exception of Cy Fair and Dulles, those btw are their only losses. I also know they won the toughest district in the area, R-3 that is. With all that being said, I'm sticking with North Shore and that's because of Courtney Williams, who could wind up being the best to play in the area. Hightower has lost two starters this year to knee injuries, however they have depth and are still rolling, winning by an average of over 28 ppg over the last 8 games. This has happened since losing to Dulles and also includes a 6 point victory against Marshall. Taylor and Tyler Gilbert have done a great job on the inside, Jasmine Brewer, Brittany Matthews and Azaela Hall have kept the team together, in spite of the injuries. For North Shore to win, Williams has got to score, Ashley Benjamin must neutralize the twins and Ariel Preston has to open up the inside with her long range missiles and mid range jumpers. Truly, this game is a toss up and the winner will more than likely be the R3 represenative in Austin.

Atascocita vs Westside

Curtyce Knox is one of the top guards in the country and for Atascocia to win, she will have to be on and by on, I am not talking about only scoring points. Westside is going to pressure them baseline to baseline, they have enough athletes to do that. Westside's Tiffany Davis is another one of those next level guards in Houston's 2012 class and if she and Knox neutralize each other offensively, Westside has a legitimate shot at making the Final 4 in post SC & COMPANY days.

BELLAIRE VS ELSIK

I liked Elsik when they beat Hightower in a fall league game and even though it was only a preseason practice game, Hightower won the real one by double digits in the Fort Bend Tourney, certain things stood out. First, they did it without the Olonu sister's, Akunna and Adaeze. Second, Jasmine Oconas scored on a variety of shots, so in order for Bellaire to win, three things have to happen.

1. AJ Alix has to handle the pressure and create
2. Raven Burns has to be on and by on, I mean 20 or more
3. Bianca Winslow has to score in double figures

Back to the Olonu's,their older sister, former Elsik all everything Adoara, plays for Texas A&M and their brother, Chinemelu, also played in Aggieland(GIG EM), had to get my plug in!

Clear Lake vs Elkins


I've always rooted for the underdog and this is a win-win, at least for me. Aron Garcia (TCU) has given Lake a tremendous boost this season teaming with Ashley Westby (Tulane) as they give the 2010 version of the R3 Twin Towers. Donielle Breaux has truly impressed me and she has to be regarded as one of the top players in the 2011 class, NATIONWIDE! I thought Elkins was done after Rhea Nelson (Tulane) tore her ACL, however what impressed me more with Elkins was their speed in the backcourt. If Lake's guards handle the pressure, they win, if not, watch out BREAUX!

REGION 2

Maybe I should say Region 2, 15-5A as Cy Fair, Cy Falls and Cy Creek all have advanced to the Elite 8. Only Bryan stands in the way of a 15-5A final, but however it plays out, I truly think Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford) won't be denied her fourth trip to Austin. Chiney, Cassie Peoples and Aarika Reyna form a triple scoring threat that most teams can't handle. Chiney is the most complete player to come out of Houston, consensus #1 player in the country and will probably not only win a NC in college with her sister, Nneka, but a gold medal in the Olympics as well.

A THREE AND A FOUR?

Clear Lake (61) Dobie (44)

Clear Lake jumped out to a big lead and never looked back. After finishing third and surprising Fort Bend runner-up Dulles in the first round, Lake knocks off district winner Dobie.

Clear Lake rested their starters and Dobie managed a couple of mini runs late in the game

But it was too much Lake as three players finished in double figures, Mackenzie Ruta (18) and Alex Kotchner and Aron Garcia both with 11. Tavecia Davis led Dobie with 15.

ELKINS (46) CHANNELVIEW (44)

Both teams were pumped before the game even started

Two of our brightest stars for next season, Donielle Breaux and Ashley Bettis

Mia Taylor was the star in Elkins upset win over Clear Creek

Elsik jumped out to a 14-0 lead, Channelview didn't score that first bucket until the end of the quarter

Channelview pulled within two, 15-13 with just under two minutes left in the half and actually took their first lead in the third quarter on an and one by Taryn Gregory. The biggest surprise came when Jasmyn Howard hit a three with under two minutes left to give Elkins the lead back and for good.

But in the end, it was too much Breaux, who finished with 20 for Elkins, followed by Amber Polk. Gregory and Bettis were high scorers for Channelview with 18 each.

Four In A Row?

CY FAIR (70) DEKANEY (48)

Sometimes it ain't FAIR but this time it was. I thought this would get ugly quick, taking into consideration Dekaney's youth and Cy Fair's experience but Dekaney hung in there for a little over a half.

Brianna Taylor (20) kept Dekaney close early with 6 first quarter points.

Cassie Peoples showed why she is one of the top players in the country, doing her thing without having to always score, 9 points, 4 assists and 5 steals.

Cy Fair was not looking one bit concerned, they knew what was coming.

Chiney Ogwumike leaves her mark on the city and knows she was one of, if not the best player to come through here. She is also hoping to make that fourth trip to Austin, something no other kid from Houston has done and the only other I am aware of in Texas that has is Erin Grant.

Cy Fair is losing a lot and many think they are dead, however they are moving to Region 3 and with a great guard, anything can happen.

Dekaney is young and will have their core group, Taylor, Alexis Durley, who scored 20 tonight, Madeline Ali and Shunta Nevitt, back next season. This team could be special and the most impressive thing I saw is that they didn't back down.

Aarika Reyna was on fire, scoring 20 points and this is one of her 4 three pointers

Yes I said it, "Brianna Taylor has Top 100 written all over her"

CHINEY'S line was 26 points,18 rebounds,7 steals 3 blocks

Region 3 is heating up

ROAD TO REGION 3 FINAL FOUR

Stratford almost got Cinco, two Ft Bend schools lost early and another pulled out a big win. Elsik almost scores 100, Hightower and North Shore win big, they'll knock eack other out, unless Clear Springs pulls off another upset, for one spot in the Regionals. Cinco edges Stratford, should make an interesting game against Bellaire, winner will face Elsik for another spot in the Final 4. Atascocita ain't no joke and they just might make it for the third spot. Channelview vs Elkins winner will meet Clear Lake to see who get's the fourth spot.

FORT KNOX

MacArthur (46) Madison (33)

The game started off slow and sluggish, ending deadlocked at 7.

Senior Meclescia Turner turned it on in the second period and Mac never looked back, she finished with 21.

Bria Lakes led Madison with 10, while Crystal Mathis Norris scored 10 for Mac.

The good news for the Marlins is they have only one senior so Kirby Caldwell has one more chance to make a run.

With three sophomores and three freshmen, led by Sade "SMOOTH OPERATOR" Adedapo, the future is bright for the Marlins.



Atacocita (60) Lamar (44)

Atascocita was ready, even before the game started. They knew what this meant and they wanted to send a message.

Michaela Burton, Lamar and Lauren Price, #4 for Atascocita

Katie Smith (15) and Akilla Hayes

Alycea Price

Lamar was down by double digits early and could never get anything going to really get back in the game. Alycea Price (10) and Michaela Burton (12) were high scorers for Lamar. Curtyce Know (23) and Lauren Price (14) were high for Atascocita.

Curtyce Knox is one of the top guards in the class of 2012, I'm talking about NATION

My nephew had his credentials and was sitting at the press table, keeping me abreast of the other games.