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Watch out for Westfield
BRACKETOLOGY: Breaking down the girls public school playoffs
All have star power -- Ayla McDowell of Cy Springs is a nationally-ranked sophomore; sophomores Bree Riley and Margan Allen of Grand Oaks make up one of the most lethal backcourts in the state; Westfield’s Kierra Merchant (UH) averages 26 per game and Klein Collins’ junior Christin Callens is a walking double-double.
Best Story – Aldine High made the postseason this year after being out of the playoffs for years.
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Class 6A Region III is blood bath in Houston as six state-ranked teams go for bragging rights.
Pearland, Hightower and Katy battle in the top half of the bracket, while Summer Creek, Austin and Deer Park are in the bottom half.
UNC-signee RyLee Grays is a matchup problem in the paint, averaging 16 and 11, while the duo of Andrea Sturdivant and Kelechi Dike make FB Austin a tough out. Summer Creek hasn’t been as dominant this season, but could get hot at the right time. Could Deer Park sneak up on teams with Maci Whitfield?
Don’t Sleep On: Clear Brook, West Brook and North Shore can beat anyone in the field on any given night.
In Class 5A Region III, Fulshear is coming out of the southwest, Manvel from the south, Barbers Hill from the west and Lake Creek from the north.
Sisters Ruke and Ese Ogbevire have led the Chargers to an unblemished district record, while Manvel has also cruised through their district going undefeated. Make that a third in Barbers Hill going 14-0 and 30-5 overall. The Hill’s Bryan Harris has already won a State Title as the head coach of Manvel a few years back.
Cinderella Story: Willowridge returns to the postseason after at 10-year absence.
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In Class 4A Region III, the Bay City Black Cats are pretty legit, going undefeated in district play. The ‘Cats are balanced with super sophs Alaysia Cook and Kylee Perry and junior Alizia Gonzales, who all average in double-figures.
Aldine Girls Basketball
HOOPS INSIDER: Aldine Girls Basketball
The spark-plug on defense is Brooke McCoy, who takes charges, sets screens and also grabs boards for Reukert.
Other names to remember include Destyni Gordon, Keiry Berrios, Briarra Simpson, Laryn Brown and Melanie Umanzor.
He says the keys to the season are "staying healthy, creating turnovers, limiting turnovers and rebounding on the defensive end". If that is accomplished, the 'Stangs will be competitive and pull out some wins.
Darria Haynes
