The Early Road To Austin

THE EARLY ROAD TO AUSTIN

I can say it a million times and it probably wouldn’t register with most people because the thing is most people follow Girl’s Basketball only through their daughter’s high school careers. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s perfectly understandable and I get it, but this has been an amazing season where anything is possible. We have seen some unforeseen victories and new major players evolve right before our eyes as the representatives for Region’s 2 and 3 remain up in the air.

First of all, let me start with a rhyme. Mirror, mirror on the wall, can anyone in Region 3 beat Cy Falls? The answer is yes, Elsik has done just that, but the problem is this. Can anyone beat Cy Falls when it counts? Hightower is the State Championship finalist from last year and you can’t count them out. North Shore has won two of the biggest area tournaments and has a chance to get out of Dodge. Clear Springs has so many quality guards on their squad, even some that come off of the bench would be starting for most of the area teams, they too can go on a roll at the right time and do some damage. Katy Taylor has been the biggest surprise so far and they hold the distinct honor of knocking off both Hightower and Atascocita, both ranked #1 in the state at the time, so to count them out wouldn’t be smart.

The Woodlands just toppled Atascocita, put an asterisk by that game because All-Everything point guard Curtyce Knox was hurt in the first quarter and didn’t return. Let me stress to you once again the game starts at the one, however both teams appear to be contenders in Region 2 as well as Dekaney, who continues to impress. An injury to Dominique Dillingham at Klein Collins has slowed them down tremendously however if she can get close to 100% and ease some of the pressure off Veja Hamilton, they too could be in the mix.

With the exception of Klein Collins, all of the teams mentioned above are ranked in the TABC Top 25 and this is probably as close to right as I’ve ever seen it. Other teams not ranked by TABC that have a shot are Bellaire, Westside and Cy Fair. Bellaire was a Region 3 finalist last season, losing to Hightower by only 6, Westside made it to the Region 3 Final 4 last season, without Rachel Cumbo and Cy Fair has a young lady who scores more ways than any player I have seen come out of Houston, Cassie Peoples. With the way the season has gone so far, you just never know how it will turn out.