Monday
Bush vs Clear Springs
I hadn’t seen Clear Springs all year so I thought Bush would blow them out. After all, they have three D1 post players, Jasmine Blakemore, Carolyn Davis and Ashley Ezeh, some teams in the city don’t even have one. Bush jumped out in front and led after the first period 18-16, riding the back of Kansas signee Davis and Albany signee Blakemore. In the second quarter, it was different story, Bush was held to only 7 points and Clear Springs was on fire with their tenacious defense led by simsational sophomore Mileka Loydrake, please folks, remember that name, this kid is a player and led 33-23 going into the half. Bush flips the script in the third quarter behind the offense and defense of Ezeh, one of the top 2010 players in the city to end the quarter tied at 40. In the end, it was too much Loydrake and company as they forced Bush into several traps which led to turnovers and sealed a 61-52 victory. Clear Springs was led by Loydrakes 22 points, Valerie Oswalds 17 and Aaliah Browns 11. Carolyn Davis led Bush with 24, Ashley Ezeh had 14.
Hightower vs Clear Creek
Like Clear Springs, I hadn’t seen Clear Creek and I expected a blowout. After all, Hightower plays in what most people consider the toughest district in the Houston area. They beat Cy Fair once this year, they almost beat Dulles another time and they placed third in the Duncanville Tournament, one of Texas most prestigious tournaments year after year. The game started off slowly, 13-11 after the first quarter, but things began to heat up in quarter two. Diamond Ford, Texas State signee, took the game over and scored 8 of her teams 22 in that quarter. Problem is Creek countered with back to back threes by Meredith Tippet, a couple of steals and a basket by Chelsea Solunika and great composure by Kaylin Dugie, one of the best guards in the class of 2010. Those three young ladies kept Creek in striking distance, down 35-27 at the half. In the third quarter, Tippet hit another three, Dugie hit back to back threes and a jumper plus some inside scoring from 6’2 sophomore post Adrienne Phillips, but a bucket by Bridgette James, a deep three from Ford and great play off the bench from Breanna Barnett didn’t let Creek gain ground as they were still down by eight, 35-27. In the end, it was too much Ford and Hightower cruised to a 69-52 victory, Ford led all scorers with 21, Dugie had 17.
Other Monday games
North Shore over Pasadena Memorial 73-45, Lauren Flores 21 points
College Park over Dekaney 76-42, Monique Smalls 16 points
Tuesday
This was another doubleheader and it involved two HISD schools, Westside and Bellaire. My youngest daughter led Westside to back to back regional finals, something only a few teams have done since I have been keeping track. My oldest daughter played for Bellaire, which since 2005 has more college signees than any other team in the Houston area, so getting to regionals would be big for both. Westside hasn’t gone since my daughter left, Bellaire hasn’t gone since 2004 when they had a PG by the name of Carla Cortigo.
The first game was Westside vs Humble. I arrived a little after the game had started and after exchanging pleasantries with old friends, I got a chance to concentrate on what was a back and forth matchup all the way. Westside is led by Houston rebounding leader, Donna Dike. She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen and she didn’t let me down. Westside led after one, 17-11. Jessica Hines took over in the second as Humble led 29-28. Hines teamed up with Rikeita Thomas in the third to offset the hot hands of Rachel Cumbo, Megan Allen and Taylor Seals, another of my top 2010 and Humble held on, 45-44. One thing about Coach Troy Gillespies defense is it is designed to wear an opponent down and in the fourth quarter, that’s exactly what it did. Humble was having problems scoring until 6’2 Brenea White, yet another top 2010, caught fire. White was on the bench over half the game because of foul trouble, but the kid has really came on. Westside won 61-56 and they were led by Donna Dikes 18, Ariel Jones 12, Rachel Cumbos 11 and Taylor Seals added 10. Humble was led by Jessica Hines 20.
The second game had Bellaire against Kingwood. The teams faced back in December and Bellaire pulled out an overtime victory, so I assumed this game would be close. Then I found out Bellaires leading scorer, Rice signee, Zoe Rogers was ill and didn’t play. Now I am thinking blowout. All I can say is what a game and even though Bob Barkers gone, we have Drew Carey so The Price Is Still Right and by that I mean Michelle Price, Wichita State signee and boy oh boy was she RIGHT.
Bellaire was down 13-8 after the first quarter and I am thinking no regionals again, even though along with Rogers going to Rice, they have Taylor McGilbra, Wichita State, Annette Davis, Kansas and Jade Handy, Lafayette-Eunice. As I sat by the cameraman scratching my head, watching price go to work, all I could think about was Ebony Mangum going getting in foul trouble for most of the game, then scoring 28 points in every way imaginable in the fourth quarter. This is a memory that sticks out in my head and I am watching Michelle. I guess Zoe was in her own zone as she hit a couple of jumpers, Davis a couple of layups, McGilbra a couple of steals and Freshman Raven Burns 3 at the buzzer gave Bellaire a 26-19 lead at halftime. Price cooled down a bit in the third, Bellaire upped the lead on some key steals by Jade Handy and Bianca Winslow, Burns hit another three, Rogers and Mc Gilbra hit back to back threes and Bellaire led 43-33 after the third. As the last quarter started, Price was spinning the wheel again and that 100 almost came up. Offense, defense, steals, assists, whatever she needed to do, she did and her teammate Kim Ginste helped the cause by nailing a couple of threes herself however it was too little, too late. With 2:30 remaining and up 50-45, Bellaire sank eight free throws in a row, two by Rogers and six by Mc Gilbra to win 58-52. Price scored over half of Kingwoods points and led all scorers with 29. Rogers led Bellaire with 19, Mc Gilbra 18 and Davis added 12.
My pick for Region 3 representative to Austin, Dulles, played against Brazoswood and won 71-26. Hershiira Boone-Rodgers, aka “shorty” led the way with 14, Amber Arceneaux, aka” Jordan” had 12. Tyranni Henderson chipped in 11 while Sarah Behrens and Kelsey Bone rounded things up in a very balanced scoring attack with 10 each. Dulles is on course to make it to regionals for the third year in a row, so we will see if the third time is truly a charm.
Other Tuesday games
Westfield over Woodlands 76-54, Simone Hopes 25, Gevenia Carter 19
Cy Fair over Round Rock 59-35, Chiney Ogwumike 20, Cassie Peeples 18
Cinco Ranch over Alief Taylor 76-52, Demi Clinch 34, Kelli Ros 14 and Tara Cioccia 11
Nimitz over Chavez 53-32, Griner 20 and 3 dunks, just in case you are interested
NOTES
Ogwumike and Clinch are two the top 2010 players in the Houston area along with Kaylin Dugie, Clear Creek, Nicole Morgan, College Park and Asley Ezeh, Fort Bend Bush. Even though I try and keep it based on what and who I have seen in Houston 5A only, Chelsea Bass, even though she plays in private school, has been seen by yours truly in AAU long enough to say she can also go. To be honest, it’s Ogwumike and everyone else.
Some of the others
Rodneshia Mylum, Taryn Gregory, Ashley Pfaff, Aarika Reyna, Kiara Redmon, Jaleesa Allen, Mariah Lee, Lexy Harris, Kelli Ros, JeLena Robertson, Kelli Evans,Tyranni Henderson and Arielle Preston. I am working on my complete 2010 player list, this is only a few players, but as the summer progresses, it will be updated with probably my top 50 or 60.
Key match ups
Clear Springs vs North Shore-Almost four years ago to this day, the Houston Chronicle did an article on changing of the guard. My daughter was playing for Westside and her team was going against All American Takia Starks and Westfield, who was the defending state champion. This game has All Everything Lauren Flores going against one of the best young guards Mileka Loydrake. Flores, like Starks is a senior and Loydrake like my daughter is a sophomore. This game also has two of the elite coaches in the area, Allison Campbell, North Shore and Pam Crawford, Clear Springs. Westside beat Westfield that year but lost to Crawfords Clear Brook team the next game.
Westside vs Cinco Ranch-The winner of this game will probably face Nimitz. Last year Nimitz knocked Westside out of the playoffs in a big way, Griner had a triple double, but on the other hand, Cinco has knocked Nimitz out the previous two years. Although no Gilbreaths are left, sharpshooter Demi Clinch has been on fire, scoring averaging over 30 points for the last three games.
Bellaire vs Katy Taylor- The luck of the draw has Bellaire in great position to get back to regionals for the first time in five years. Katy Taylor has been up and down at times but this should be a great game
College Park vs Cy Falls-Mo Smalls and company are trying to get past the second round and be in position to make her first Region 2 final four.
Westfield vs Georgetown- Gevenia "Nay" Carter is trying to lead her team to back final fours in region 2 and if they win this game, they will likely play Cy Fair, who is playing Tomball. Problem is, Chiney Ogwumike is trying to make a third straight state championship game