I try to catch college games as much as possible, especially when a former player that I coached is playing. I've known Diamond Ford since she was in the 6th grade at Lanier Middle School, which has been the starting point for many next level players including my daughter, Sydney Colson (Texas A&M), Bianca Smith (Colorado), and three young ladies on floor last night, Zoe Rogers (Rice), Ford and Taylor McGilbra (Texas State) along with Bellaire seniors Raven Burns (Texas State) and Bianca Winslow (Houston).
I coached Ford in club ball while she starred for Hightower, helping lead them to the R-3 Final 4 her senior year, and the thing that Diamond always could do was shoot and get to the rack as well as anyone from this area. Nothing has changed at the next level as she scored from any possible way either slithering to the hole or dropping long range bombs on her way to 28 points
Demi Clinch,left, was also known for dropping the long ball with the best of them and during 2008, she helped lead Cinco Ranch to their only R-3 Final 4, losing 69-61 to eventual champion Cy Fair in the Regional Final. Clinch still showed she can hit the long ones and she finished with 3 three pointers and 11 points on the evening. Verinus Kalu,right,is one of the most energetic players I have ever seen and although she's listed as 5'8, she plays as if she's 6'2 and can jump straight out of the gym. Sandwiched in between is Jessica Kuster who finished with 20 points in 22 minutes for the Owls. Still hampered by nagging injuries, she came ready to play in beast mode
Ashley Ezeh was a former star at Fort Bend Bush who was a little ahead of their time when they started three D1 post players, Jasmine Blakemore and All American candidate Carolyn Davis (Kansas) were lined up along with Ezeh, however she still proves to be a force reckoned with in the paint
There were 24 players combined on both teams from Texas including Kaylan Martin who starred at Pflugerville, which is again in the running to make a run for state. Martin, who helped lead them to their last appearance in state, transferred back home from the University of Evansville and she comes from a D1 family of players.
It's always good seeing the kids grow up right before your eyes and this turned out to be a great game, Texas State was down by double digits early but managed to cut it to 5 a couple of times down the stretch in the their 73-66 loss but it appears they aren't ready to concede the Southland Conference title over to McNeese State just yet. Former Dickinson star Brionna Hypolite and Christal Porter added 18 each for the Owls.