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Ayla McDowell of Cypress Springs
PEAK INGENUITY: Cy Springs' McDowell One of a Kind
Her goals for her junior year are fairly simple.
“My mindset for this season is to keep our success going,” she McDowell. “I want to get District MVP again, and as a team, I want us to get to State. I honestly think this team is capable of advancing that far and we can win it.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
McDowell is as talented as they come, given how she can effortlessly switch from the guard and post positions throughout the season.
“I think my biggest strength is my versatility,” she said. “I can play inside and outside, which makes me a difficult person to guard. If I’m up against a post player, I can maneuver around them. If I got a smaller guard on me, I can post up. That ability is extremely useful for me.”
It might not come as a surprise that her ingenuity can be seen off the court as well.
“I like to think I’m an engineering-type of person. I love creating things,” McDowell said. “One day, that’s a field I could go into. Some of the cooler things I’ve made were these cutting boards I built last year in my manufacturing class. It took some time, but you can make some interesting designs and sell them for a nice profit.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Many athletes will often look to their family or peers for motivation. However, not everyone can say that they were mentored by a former professional like McDowell.
“One of my biggest inspirations was Marie Ferdinand,” she said. “She played in the WNBA, and she always pushed me to compete when I was younger. She taught me how to shoot, and once I started to fall in love with the game, I knew that was what I wanted to do when I got older. I’ve known her for a long time, and we still talk to this day. She’s always by my side and I really appreciate her.”
If McDowell keeps at her current pace, she could reach that same level of success one day. It’s only a matter of time.
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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.