Girls’ basketball playoffs: Second-round games to watch
angel.verdejo@chron.com
The opening round of the University Interscholastic League girls basketball playoffs is in the book and the area saw dominant wins and a few upsets as well. Now, it’s on to the second round where a few area powers will square off. Here are a few of the area’s top matchups:
1 Bellaire vs. Cy-Fair (7:30 p.m. Friday, Mayde Creek)
The Cardinals made up for losing in the first round last year, but now comes a Cy-Fair squad that features UH signee Angela Harris (16.6 points per game) and beat Bellaire in the area round in 2014.
2 Seven Lakes vs. Cypress Falls (6 p.m. Friday, Mayde Creek)
The Spartans are 2-1 against Cy-Fair ISD this season, including a win over 17-6A champion Cypress Woods. But the Eagles counter with sophomore Joanne Allen-Taylor (19.1 points per game).
3 Cypress Woods vs. Tompkins (6 p.m. Friday, Morton Ranch)
The reigning Class 6A state champions have one of the best frontcourts around led by 6-foot-9 Nancy Mulkey, but Tompkins and New Mexico signee Brittany Panetti won’t exactly make things easy.
4 Manvel vs .
Hasti ngs (7 p. m. Fr i day, Hopson)
Three Mavericks (I mani Wiley, Lauren Taylor and Ally C audill) are still around from the team’s 2014 state championship, but Hastings has won six games ina row and is led by junior Kai-Lee Valentine.
5 George Ranch vs. Barbers Hill (7:30 p.m. Friday, Phillips)
The District 24-5A champions haven’t lost a game since the middle of December, including an undefeated run through league play, but now their reward is Barbers Hill, the ninth-ranked team in 5A.
6 Dayton vs. Galveston Ball (7 p.m. Friday, Baytown Lee)
The first round’s biggest win goes to the Broncos, who upset Beaumont Ozen, the state’s 17th-ranked team, and now Dayton tries to win consecutive playoff games for the first time since 2012.
7 Atascocita vs. Austin
Bowie ( 8 p. m. Friday, College Station)
Despite finishing tied for first in 16-6 A, the Eagles ended up as t hat league’ s third seed and now look to put down a district champion in the Bulldogs after eliminating a runner-up in Klein Oak.
8 Brazosport
vs. Taylor (7 p. m. Friday, Schulenburg)
This is one of t he better Class 4A matchups — t he No. 1 5 Exporters have an electric play maker in Jasmyne Harris ( UH signee) while Taylor is ranked 23 rd in the state.