GAMES
RANKINGS
WHO LET THE ’DAWGS IN!? Summer Creek punches ticket to state for 2nd time in 4 years
KATY—“It’s the Creek, baby.”
In four words, senior Kaitlyn Duhon essentially summed up the excellence of Summer Creek girls basketball, as the Bulldogs are quickly becoming the face of Houston area girls hoops.
No. 2 state-ranked Summer Creek took down Pearland, 59-42, on Saturday afternoon at the Merrell Center in the Region III-6A final. The Bulldogs won their 20th straight game, and, in doing so, booked their second trip to the state tournament in the last four years.
“It was real from beginning to end,” said Duhon, an Auburn signee who had a game-high 20 points to go with nine rebounds. “Pearland wasn’t letting up, and neither were we. We just wanted it more. I wasn’t going to go home. We weren’t going home. We handled business.
“I’m so proud of us. I’m so excited.”
VYPE: Road to the Dome\n\nSummer Creek is heading to San Antonio for the 2nd time in 4 seasons. Check out the highlights! #UILState @HumbleISD_SCHS @HumbleISD @SC_CoachD @kkaitlynjanay @JorynnR @HumbleISD_Ath @imjustmiamia @KPRC2RandyMc @anahlynnn @BrentMac68 @TXHSGBB @HTownHSpic.twitter.com/co0i0SWevJ— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645912813
Pearland (28-10) scored the first six points. The game got off to a sloppy start with the teams combining for 14 turnovers, to 16 total points, in the first quarter.
Neither team got much breathing room until Duhon’s clutch three-point play with one second left in the third quarter awarded Summer Creek a five-point advantage going into the final period.
“At that moment, it gave us momentum,” coach Carlesa Dixon said. “She always comes up big when we need her. We go as she goes. She’s our captain.”
That opened the floodgates for Summer Creek, which got out to an 8-2 run to start the fourth. The Bulldogs, who hit three of their five 3s in the fourth quarter, outscored the Oilers 22-10 in the final period.
“I don’t think we’ve started a game down 6-0 all season,” Dixon said. “For them to stay calm and not get rattled, that was our whole focus. Play basketball, do what we do, and see what the outcome is.”
.@sc_ladyhoops coach @SC_CoachD talks about being Region III-6A champs and more. #txhshoops @HumbleISD_SCHS @HumbleISD_Ath @HumbleISD @SC_CoachDpic.twitter.com/zAz3EXoQnN— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645909715
Aside from Duhon, Summer Creek was buoyed by a pair of precocious sophomores at timely moments of the game. Janiya Murphy made big play after big play, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. Torran Deterville was clutch in the fourth, scoring eight of her 10 points in the period, including back-to-back triples to push the lead into double figures.
“It gives me hope for the future,” Dixon said. “The fact they weren’t afraid of the moment. For them not understanding what this moment is, it’s good. They’re young, but we have a lot of confidence in them.”
Pearland, which stayed admirably close most of the game with its physicality, size, and aggressiveness, eventually ran out of gas. Junior RyLee Grays scored 19 points. Senior Aryelle Stevens had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Pearland slowed the game and sought out contact, getting to the free-throw line 30 times to Summer Creek’s 17. But Pearland only made 15 free throws, and never had enough offensive consistency whenever it wasn’t drawing fouls.
The Oilers, in the regional final for the first time since 1991, were simply outmatched. Summer Creek had more talent and depth. The Bulldogs’ defense was relentless, forcing 22 turnovers after forcing 20 in their regional semifinal win Friday.
“That’s our bread and butter,” Dixon said. “We struggled to score in the offensive sets, and we know when we have trouble scoring, turn the defense up. Turn defense into offense. That’s our thing.”
Three Bulldogs (Duhon, Murphy, Deterville) scored in double figures, with senior Anahlynn Murray adding seven points and junior Jorynn Ross finishing with six.
.@sc_ladyhoops: Region III-6A champs. 38-2. Twenty straight wins. Second state appearance in four years. #txhshoops @HumbleISD_SCHS @SC_CoachD @UIL_ADpic.twitter.com/gidf0qnHES— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1645908466
“I’m just thankful and proud,” Dixon said. “People don’t understand how hard those girls work. I run those girls into the ground preseason, during the season, and they never complained. They knew what it takes. Most of them were freshmen, eighth graders, the last time we did this before (in 2019), and they’ve wanted it since that moment. They came to San Antonio when we went. They said it from day one when they got on campus, that’s what they wanted. To see them get a chance to do it, it’s special.”
Duhon said it’s a credit to Dixon and a group of players that is coachable and plays well together. It starts with Duhon and Ross, a transfer last summer who had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Friday’s regional semifinal win over Dulles.
Dixon said Ross had to learn to accept that she was no longer the No. 1 option on a team. She did. Duhon had to learn to share the ball and acclimate Ross as another premier playmaker. She did.
“It’s been amazing,” Duhon said. “We’ve won a lot of different ways. We’ve played different teams. We’ve played different atmospheres. We’re always locked in. We have energy. We have people coming off the bench giving the same energy the starters are giving.”
.@sc_ladyhoops senior @AuburnWBB signee Kaitlyn Duhon talks about being Region III-6A champs, the culture of success at Summer Creek, Coach Carlesa Dixon, and more. #txhshoops @HumbleISD_SCHS @HumbleISD_Ath @HumbleISD @SC_CoachDpic.twitter.com/7ckEpgDcQa— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645909442
Dixon said the team will celebrate this weekend. Come Monday, however, it’s back to basics.
“Enjoy this moment, because not everybody gets to have this moment. But remain hungry and stay humble,” Dixon said. “It’s not over.”
Region III-6A Roundup: Pearland, Summer Creek headed to final presented by Sun & Ski Sports
KATY—While the battle of two of the more elite talents in the Classes of 2023 and 2024 did not have the luster much anticipated, Friday’s Region III-6A semifinal between Pearland and Seven Lakes did not disappoint.
The game came down to the final minutes, with the Oilers squeaking out a 39-37 win after the Spartans made a dramatic late run to make things thrilling. Pearland (28-9) is in the regional final for the first time since 1991, while Seven Lakes ends its best season since 2012-13 at 33-7 overall.
Pearland won its 15th consecutive game. The Oilers held the Spartans to their fewest point total since a loss to Atascocita on Nov. 13. Pearland plays Summer Creek in the regional final Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Merrell Center.
“It feels great,” first-year coach Jere’ Adams said. “These kids have been working for August since this. A lot of people may be shocked that we’re here, but we’re not. Since getting hired on here, I told them that this is a special group. These kids have put their nose down and battled it out. We’ve had to beat Shadow Creek twice and North Shore to get here. The kids are battle-tested. This was the plan all along.”
Pearland’s star junior forward RyLee Grays was out of rhythm all night long after getting in foul trouble early. When she was forced to sit with two fouls for six minutes of the second quarter, Seven Lakes turned a 10-point deficit into a 20-20 tie.
But senior forward Aryelle Stevens picked up the slack, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds and helping Pearland stay in control even with Grays, who finished with 12 (eight shy of her season average) points and five rebounds, out of sorts.
.@oilerpride_gbb senior Aryelle Stevens discusses the Oilers\u2019 39-37 Region III-6A semifinal win over Seven Lakes. Stevens had 11 points and 13 rebounds to help Pearland to its first regional final since 1991. #txhshoops @PearlandISD @PearlandHighSchpic.twitter.com/vKUzTmYyds— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645837801
Adams said Stevens worked for the moment and reaped the rewards of her time and effort in the program.
“She was big for us, being able to crash the boards and do what we asked of her,” Adams said. “She’s a senior, a four-year varsity player, so she’s ready for this. We’re proud of her.”
Seven Lakes’ star sophomore forward Justice Carlton had a terrific outing with 15 points, 15 rebounds, six rebounds and six steals, but could never establish consistency offensively.
Three days after torching Fort Bend Austin for 42 points, 21 rebounds and 10 blocks, Carlton was stymied by the Oilers’ traps and constant double teams.
“We wanted to lock in defensively and be aware of where she was,” Adams said. “Play solid defense, bump the cutters. We had our plan and the kids executed. We’re a solid defensive team. That’s been our identity all along.”
Pearland forced 17 turnovers.
SUMMER CREEK 81, DULLES 43: Summer Creek did what it does, forcing turnovers, getting out in transition on offense as a result, and relying upon the dynamic dominance of junior center Jorynn Ross and senior wing Kaitlyn Duhon.
The Bulldogs improved to 37-2 in their fifth consecutive regional tournament appearance and are one win away from making it to state for the second time in four years.
Pearland plays Summer Creek in the regional final Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Merrell Center.
Summer Creek forced 20 turnovers. Eighteen of Dulles’ 43 points came from the free throw line.
“We just played our game,” coach Carlesa Dixon said. “That’s the defense we’ve been playing all year, but, honestly, that’s the best it’s looked all year, as far as a complete four quarters of defense.”
Offensively, Ross and Duhon, an Auburn signee, were exceptional. Duhon started things with eight points in the first quarter. Then Ross, a 6-foot-3 forward, picked up the slack with 11 points and three blocks in the second quarter.
In the second half, the pair’s high-low game was too much for Dulles. Ross had nine points in the final two quarters, mostly off feeds from Duhon. Ross finished with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
.@sc_ladyhoops junior @JorynnR talks about tonight\u2019s Region III-6A semifinal win over Dulles. Ross had a game-high 22 points with nine rebounds and four blocks. #txhshoops @HumbleISD @HumbleISD_Ath @HumbleISD_SCHSpic.twitter.com/NcjvLgHfVd— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1645845330
Duhon finished with a stellar all-around game of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Every time Summer Creek wanted a bucket in the halfcourt set, the guards got the ball to Duhon on the high post, who’d find Ross at will.
“They feed off of each other,” Dixon said. “And it’s not just them. This team shares the ball very well. They know where each other’s supposed to be. But, yeah, that high-low game works really well with those two.”
Now the Bulldogs just have to finish the job. Enjoy the win, Dixon said, but don’t get comfortable.
“This group is different,” Dixon said. “It’s their mindset. They were all younger when we made those runs to regionals and went to state in 2019. They saw it. Some of them were freshmen and eighth-graders when we cut down the nets, so it’s always been a hunger for this group. For them to have a chance at that, they’re seizing the opportunity.”
If you need winter gear for skiing, snowboarding, cycling, running, hiking and more, Sun & Ski Sports has it in-stock and ready to rock your upcoming adventure! Shop in-store at their 13 locations in Texas, or sunandski.com.