These Eagles Are Not Ready To Land
If the opening day games were an indication on what to expect this season, be prepared for some of the most exciting and entertaining basketball in the state. The game that caught my eye more than anything was the Klein Collins vs Cy Falls match-up, mainly because I wanted to see if Loryn Goodwin’s arrival would be enough to offset the loss of Larissa Scott and Macy Moore, it didn’t take me long to get my answer. First of all, the game started almost an hour late because of a double overtime JV thriller. Usually when players are waiting that long to play, their games usually start off sluggish and this game was just that. Cy Falls jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter; in fact Collins didn’t score until less than two minutes were left in the quarter.
Last season I called Falls “Da Bomb Squad” because of the number of players they had that could shoot the three. This season’s squad is all over the place and whether they are attacking the basket or launching the missiles, I expect this team to be one of the more explosive ones before it’s all said and done. When you have this type of firepower in the backcourt, Sedalia Ellis (Liberty), Kit Metoyer (Harvard) and Goodwin (North Texas), you are looking at 3 D1 guards. Shernise Robertson hasn’t signed yet however if her performance last night was an indication on what to expect, it won’t be long until number 4 is stamped.
Falls was up 21-7 before Veja Hamilton(TCU) started taking over. Although Hamilton’s outside shot wasn’t falling, she ignited a 9-2 run that cut that lead to 7 and her ability to get to the basket and free throw line and converting them is what kept them hanging close most of the half. Carol Willie didn’t score for the Eagles until late in the second quarter, in fact she hadn’t touched the ball on the offensive end, but she scored 5 big points down the stretch. The 6’2 Willie was supposed to be backed up by Kayla Tarvar, however Tarvar joined fellow senior Joaan Modeste and sophomore Katie Navjar as injured posts sitting on the bench with knee braces on. This opened the door for junior Erin Caldwell to move up to varsity and if she can give them productive minutes during big games when Willie is tired, all bets are off, these Eagles are ready to soar.
Ellis and Goodwin carried the offense in the first half, Goodwin and Robertson did it in the second half and if it wasn’t for Dominque “Double D” Dillingham scoring 8 points in the third quarter, this game could have gotten real ugly. Although Collins lost, I saw the energy they possess and when their youth matures, I think they will be in the fight for District 13. Transfer Jasmine Nash and Infiniti Harris are talented young sophomores who will be able to contribute before it’s all said done but right now Hamilton and Dillingham have to keep putting in the work, well just like last season. The good thing for me is that I will see the same two squads next week in the Texas Invitational, well with that being said I’ll also see Falls defend their Spring Branch ISD title this weekend.
