Clear Springs advances to the area final

I knew the game between Bellaire and Clear Springs would be a battle however I gave Clear Springs the edge because they have been here back to back seasons and they are battle tested. That point was made as they held off numerous Cardinal comebacks to win 80-65.Both teams happen to have the two best point guards in the city, who also happen to be two of the best in the country in their respective classes and we all should know by now one of my favorite sayings is the game starts at the one. Bellaire’s AJ “The Real Deal” Alix dropped 40 points in her freshman season in the regional final against Hightower, and in her last game as a Cardinal she scored 41 which included seven threes, five of those in the final quarter

Clear Springs jumped out to a 23-12 lead after one and increased it to 17 early in the second  before an 11-0 Cardinal run. Clear Springs ‘Brooke “The Chosen One” McCarty and Alix were putting on a show as they amazed the crowd all night but what they did was what I expected when I dissected the bracket early this season McCarty finished with 35 and probably double digit assists, do the math on that one and subtract it from the 80 they scored and you will get the picture.

I have several pictures on film, well memory card, and even more in my head as Springs supporting cast of Courtney Latham “The Underrated One” scored 18 on a variety of shots and she is smooth as silk on the floor. Kaylin Roher hit the dagger that eliminated Manvel, something she has been doing since I first saw her and her big-time play last night was huge as she dropped 15

Angel Williams and Lulu McKinney will be back next season and both showed a great amount of improvement throughout the season. Williams in fact was key with Alix in that early comeback, not to mention senior Shandice Waugh’s relentless battle in the paint for the Cardinals. Speaking of relentless, the Chargers Ryshinique Bell will leave here as one of the best 5’8 posts from the city, can anyone say Chelsea Johnson?

Springs has several X factors, which made them so versatile and an easy choice. Jo Ann Lira didn’t score in double figures however she does so many of the things that don’t show up in the box score but you always have to watch her because she may go off at any time and her pass, well look at the blog and you’ll get it