Monday @ San Jac

Dobie (49) Port Arthur Memorial (41)

It appeared I would see a No.4 knocking off a No.1 as PA Memorial took a commanding lead over Dobie early in the ball game.

The big girl, No.21, was unstoppable for Port Arthur in the first quarter scoring 13 points and leading her team to a double digit lead



The Horns, led by Tavecia Davis, fought back and took their first lead with two minutes left in the third period on a 3 by Jazmine Guerrero and the look on the bench says it all. Dobie will play tonights winner between Dulles and Clear Lake later this week.

CHANNELVIEW (68) LA PORTE (39)

Channelview has two of the top players in the country in their respective classes, Taryn Gregory and Ashley Bettis. The team has been up and down all season, however tonight they were way up.

Their dynamic duo was aided by Vyshae Holmes, all three scored in double figures.

For Channelview to go deep, they need to continue to play the way they did last night and by that, the "Big 3" have to be clicking on all cylinders. They will play tonight's winner between Elkins and Clear Creek later in the week.

Bettis had a double double, 14 points, 10 rebounds.

Gregory also had a double double, 18 points, 10 assists and just missed a triple double, 9 rebounds, plus 7 steals.

La Porte had plenty of fan support!

I guess I'll close with two "THREE'S FOR TEEEEEEEEEE"

Texas State vs Lamar

"IF YOU DON"T KNOW, ASK ME"

I've had a great rapport with several of the kids who came out of Houston over the years for a number of reasons. One, I had daughters who mingled well with several of the players and the other, I am sort of a free spirit, which I guess means if I was wealthy, I would be thought of as eccentric, but I'm not, so some think I'm off the chain. Two kids who have been very close to me are the Williams twins, Brandi"Tweet" and Brittney"Moses", pictured above. I remember the first time I met the kids, Brandi was a very hard worker and extremely fast, one of the fastest guards to come out of here. Her desire led to a scholarship at Northwestern State, but had to stop playing due to a medical condition. Brandi is arguably the best undersized big to come out of here. The twins led Spring to the Regional Final Four, back to back seasons, advancing to State their senior year.

MOSES & ME

Brandi led her AAU team to back to back championships at the 10 and 11u AAU Nationals. She was also featured in Sports Illustrated at 12.

Jasmine Henderson, far right was a four year starter at Dulles and helped them to three Regional Final Fours. Ang Green, Silsbee, was one of the top scorers in the state her senior year. Lamar is having a super season with eyes on the NCAA Tournament.

Texas State is rebuilding, they have 9 sophomore and freshmen on their roster. They also have 4 kids from Houston, Venus Kalu, Ashley Shoemake, Dawn Kiel and Diamond Ford. Ford led Hightower to the Regional Final Four last yar, something they are hoping to duplicate.

DAWN & DIAMOND

Texas State is rebuilding and next year Demi Clinch will bring an added offensive weapon.

Westbury Christian vs Concordia Lutheran

I had already witnessed some great games on Saturday, so even though I wasn't really up for the long drive, I couldn't pass up seeing two of the best guards in the Class of 2011, Taylor Schippers and Amber Orrange

One was always known for being a sharpshooter, however over the years she has gradually added things to her game and is now a complete player.

The other was known for her speed and as this picture attests, she is lightning fast

Her outside shot was questionable, see video and being a lefty, quite naturally folks assumed she could only go left. I guess I can use Beyonce's sister Solange because she can go"To the right, to the right", see video

The first time around, Concordia won 56-41, Schippers (14 points, 6 assists) and #3 Stephanie Arenivas(14 points, 12 rebounds) led the way as they sandwich Fallon Ellis. This time around, it looked like more of the same as Schippers scored a quick 4 points to help Concordia jump out 9-2. Problem is Ellis was a beast under the basket and WC hit a barrage of three pointers to take a quarter ending lead, 18-17.

The game went back and forth until the final quarter when WC opened up a double digit lead and Tyranni Henderson's three with 2:25 sealed the victory as WC won 71-54.


Madison McKinstrey lead Concordia with 18 points while Schippers added 11

Orrange led the way for WC with 23, followed by Ellis (16), Henderson (13) and Cami Olson (12)

These two could meet again for the TAPPS State Championship

What a day in 20-5A

I am not a rapper, well not a good one, but "TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY" for me because I saw some really good games. Westside vs Madison, followed by Lamar vs Bellaire and finishing up with with Westbury Christian vs Concordia Lutheran. Great effort by all the ladies, pretty good coaching also. I was entertained, thanks!

WESTSIDE VS MADISON

Westside started off strong, outscoring Madison by five in each of the first two quarters and leading by ten, 30-20 at the half, led by Taylor Seals and Tiffany Davis. Westside is known for their aggressive defense but as the light was shining bright outside, Madison was equally strong defensively, led by post Kirby Caldwell.

Tinesha Clark has been shooting the long ball extremely well this week and added 3 more three pointers today.


Madison turned it on the second half, outscoring the Wolves 23-12 and pulling out a 43-42 victory. LaPorche Moore led the way for the Marlins with 12. For Westside, Clark scored 11 points while Erin Luton added 10. Freshman Sade Adepado hit two three's in the last quarter, three for the game, including the game winner below.

SADE FOR THE WIN!

SADE "SMOOTH OPERATOR"ADEPADO

T




LAMAR VS BELLAIRE

Lamar hadn't beat Bellaire since W's first term but to me it seemed like the bicentennial, however today a bright light was shining on all the underdogs, see pics. The Cardinals came from behind earlier this week against Westside, but came up on the short end today as Lamar's seniors got a much needed win, 44-43, right before the playoffs. Bionca Johnson, Michaela Burton and Akilla Hayes hit clutch free throws down the stretch while Alycea Price's two put backs helped seal the victory. As it stands, Westside and Madison are tied for second, Lamar plays Madison next week and a Redskin win would give them a tie for third place in district, a loss means madison and Westside probably will finished tied for second. Johnson led Lamar with 15 points while Burton added 10.

Bianca Winslow was super today, leading Bellaire with 12 while AJ Alix chipped in 11.

Beyonce going"To the left, to the left"

Alycea"TWIN"Price and Kemi Omotola keeping it close early for their respective schools

"Akilla Hayes" sinks them both down the stretch

13-5A Tomball vs Klein Forest and next season

Tomball won it's eleventh game of the season defeating Klein Forest on Friday night and is in a first place tie with Klein Collins and Dekaney, who travels to Tomball on Tuesday night. Klein Collins is two games back and play Westfield at home, so the district will probably end up in a tie for first place.

Tomball has been a surprise this season with Caitlin Diaz and Taylor Frank averaging close to 30 ppg between them.

Next season should be intersting because Tomabll loses three of their top four scorers including Frank, Kathleen Mc Stravick and Nicole Brown.




Several players on JV, including Jessica Brown think they are ready for the varsity challenge next season.

Klein Forest on the other hand has made somewhat of a power move with youth and a matured Desiree Davis, a healthy Jasmine Rollins and Kierra Shepard, a more experienced Keryana Wyatt to go along with Keylantra Taylor and Diamond Welch, who will be the only seniors with varsity experience. Also Thomas Henderson's grandaughter will be an incoming freshman, if you don't know, GOOGLE, and she dropped 50 in a game her 7th grade year, "It ain't what you do, it's who you do it against" but FIFTY is a nice number. Can these kids get Klein Forest into the playoffs? What about Klein and a health Ashley Alexander? Dekaney and Klein Collins are probably set, but with Diaz back, don't count Tomball out!

Playoff brackets

5A

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/brackets/basketball/girls/pdf/5AGirls.pdf

4A

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/brackets/basketball/girls/pdf/4AGirls.pdf


All Divisions

http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/brackets/basketball/girls/index.html

20-5A Westside vs Bellaire

When these two teams hook up, you know it's going to be a dog fight, however the Wolves haven't torn up the Cards lately, but they've come awfully close. Last night was probably the best HISD game I've seen all year. Westside jumped out to an early lead and held it all the way until the end before losing 50-48. The amazing Tiffany Davis had the Wolves going early and Bellaire sharpshooter Raven Burns was completely off. Funny thing about shooters though, they will eventually start dropping shots.

Tinseha Clark was on fire, dropping three long ones, however it seemed everytime she hit one, they never went back to her. Clark finished with 12 for the Wolves, Burns led they way for the Cards with 16.

Erin Luton, who was awesome inside, led the Wolves with 13. Bianca Winslow was always known as a smart defensive player, now it seems her offense has caught up. She finshed with 13.

Winslow's dad, Ricky, was a standout player in HS, Yates, and college, U of H, so I guess it's something about those Phi Slamma Jama genes, as Michael Young's son is leading an undefeated Yates to being ranked the No 1 team in the Nation while Akeem , before the H, Olajawon's daughter, Abi, has helped Oklahoma to a Top 25 ranking in the NCAA.

At the end, it was AJ Alix, going coast to coast, spinning and dropping an eight footer for the win. This kid is special and before it's over, she will be one of the top guards in the Nation for her class, she also finished the night with 13 points. So Bellaire wins the district crown for he third year in a row, several HS coaches were on hand last night mapping out the playoffs, doing a little scouting, etc. Butler had one side packed and it was a great game. The only downside was that the weather sucked, but then again maybe it fit the comeback.

22- 4A Worthing vs Sterling

I was impressed with Worthing last year when I saw them against Bellaire, a game in whch they probably should have won. This season, they have lost 3 games, two to 5A schools, Cy Ridge and Chavez, and another to district rival Washington, which they avenged in a 28 point victory the second time a round. They started off slow and sluggish against Sterling however they wound up beating them by 35.

Jenzel Nash was a Chronicle Pre-Season All Greater Houston selection and is averaging around 25 ppg. She led the way with 30, Shirley Mc Gowen added 24.
I like Worthing's style on defense because it's full of energy and athleticisim as they keep coming at you, sending two or three players on the ball, which will frustrate many backcourts in the city.

I was asked by a fan how far I thought they could go and to be honest with you, I doubt if they can get out of here, I also said the same thing aboutYates, however in the playoffs you only have to be the best team that particular game and the pressure that these two teams put on opponents, you never know.

District 24-5A

CLEAR BROOK VS CLEAR SPRINGS

If you had a chance to watch the game on Comcast last night, you already know it was exciting. After a seesaw battle the whole first half, which was tied at 29, Springs pulled out in the third period,

Paced by freshman JoAnn Lira (13) and Morgan Kilgore (18), Springs never looked back and won 63-55. Kiara Rednon was a "BEAST" for Clear Brook, scoring (22) while Adelyn Ezeh added 13.

Lira, Kaylin Roher and Tiffany Terry are three freshmen on Clear Springs varsity which is on pace to equal an abundance of talent in the 2012 class. Houston's future is looking good!

Aaliyah Brown is another one of those guards from a loaded 2012 class.

Mileka Loydrake's return next season will make Springs an early favorite next season. Spring is losing five players, but their future is bright. Coach Crawford built Brook into a powerhouse, looks like it's happening again.

Freshman Sharpshooter Chelsea Ngo will give Clear Brook an offensive boost for the next three years, one of the best shooters in the area.

Lira was outstanding, hitting back to back threes, assisting on another and driving to the lane for an and one opportunity. After the game, I congratulated her on scoring, her response, "Thanks Coach but the points don't matter" Right attitude, smart kid!

2013

Clear Springs and Clear Brook have some talented freshmen coming up through the ranks. Courtney Mickens who is out with knee injury and Jerilyn James, I missed her game because the varsity was on Comcast and JV switched game time with the freshmen, are two of the up and comers.

Alexia Sandoval and Kelly Quinorez are two of the talented freshmen guards for Springs.

Along with the guards, Alysse Dowdy, Tyasia Thomas,Ryshanique Ball and Madison Harris, this is on one of the best freshmen squads I've seen in a long time.