Pick any component of success –– endurance, physical and mental toughness, resilience, patience –– and odds are it was put to the test Friday night when Ellison and Chaparral were locked into an entertaining back-and-forth District 16-5A tilt with first place on the line.
It was gritty, gutty, and a grind for 32 minutes. Neither team led by more than six, there were six lead changes, and a whole lot of tense moments in between, during a game in front of a loud, supportive crowd at Chaparral Gym that came down to a last-second 3-point heave as time expired.
Ellison’s Jadesola Oladipo scored a team-high 12 points, and Faith Etienne posted six of her 10 points in the fourth quarter when the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Bobcats by six to hang on for a 35-32 victory and grab sole possession of first place at the end of the first round of league play.
“My kids were resilient tonight. They played their hearts out,” Ellison head coach Sherry McKinnon said not long after she let out a big sigh of relief. “They told me they were ready and they showed me they were ready. So, I’m so proud of them.”
Indigo Newburn added nine points for the Lady Eagles (20-10 overall), who moved to 5-0 in 16-5A. All of Oladipo’s points came from 3-point range, hitting a pair in the first quarter and two more in the third, including one at the buzzer that pulled Ellison within 29-26 going to the fourth.
Ellison led 10-6 after the first quarter and it was 17-all at halftime.
Chazlyn Dettor posted a game-high 16 points for the defending district champion Lady Bobcats (19-10, 4-1), but the senior post couldn’t connect on a layup after a nifty spin move gave her space with 10 seconds left, and her desperation 3 hit high off the backboard as time expired.
Ivy Powell added nine points and Taylor Hines and Josilyn Simmons had three apiece.
“We just didn’t make the shots tonight,” Chaparral head coach Jennifer Graham said. “Ellison did exactly what we thought they would do.”
Ellison has held each of its five district foes to less than 35 points.
The district-title race a season ago came down to the two KISD clubs, with Chaparral’s lone loss en route to the crown was provided by the Lady Eagles. The two teams meet a final time Feb. 4 this season at Ellison, and the championship could again be at stake.
More photos of Friday's game can be found here.
On the boys side of District 16-5A, the fifth-ranked Ellison Eagles moved to 3-0 with a 91-42 win over Chaparral (1-2 district). Marneko paced the offensive onslaught with 22 points. Sean Parks (18), Jojo McIver (17), Darone Leakes (13) and Elijah Bass (10) also reach double figures.
District 12-6A
Boys
Shoemaker closed out the first half of district with a 64-45 win over host Waco Midway on Friday night. The Grey Wolves (14-11 overall) are 6-0 in 12-6A and have a one-game lead over second-place Harker Heights.
The Knights (20-8, 5-1) defeated Killeen 61-50 on Friday, setting the stage for a rematch with the Grey Wolves on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Girls
Harker Heights kept control of first with a win over Killeen High, while Shoemaker boosted its record to 6-2 in league after a 67-55 triumph over Midway. The Lady Grey Wolves are one game back of the Lady Knights, who host Shoemaker on Tuesday. The Lady Grey Wolves won the first matchup in December.
Boys soccer
Friday’s finals included Ellison defeating Killeen 1-0, Chaparral drawing 0-0 versus Splendora, Shoemaker downing Colleyville Heritage 4-2 and Harker Heights falling 2-1 to San Angelo Central.
Girls soccer
The Lady Knights played to a scoreless tie on the road against College Station, while Ellison eked out a 2-1 win over Killeen.
Middle school basketball scores
Jan. 13
Girls
Eighth-grade A: Union Grove 43, Audie Murphy 8; JDA 44, Eastern Hills 22; Liberty Hill 39, Live Oak Ridge 13; Manor 31, Nolan 17; Patterson 37, Palo Alto 15; Smith 38, Rancier 8
Seventh-grade A: Audie Murphy 30, Union Grove 4; JDA 35, Eastern Hills 5; Liberty Hill 38, Live Oak Ridge 18; Nolan 25, Manor 21; Patterson 37, Palo Alto 13; Smith 23, Rancier 15
Jan. 16
Boys
Eighth-grade A: Audie Murphy 64, Union Grove 29; JDA 58, Eastern Hills 32; Live Oak Ridge 36, Liberty Hill 33; Nolan 48, Manor 13; Patterson 60, Palo Alto 27; Smith 39, Rancier 25
Eighth-grade B: Audie Murphy 38, Union Grove 20; JDA 23, Eastern Hills 18; Liberty Hill 42, Live Oak Ridge 20; Patterson 26, Palo Alto 25; Smith 31, Rancier 13
Seventh-grade A: Union Grove 46, Audie Murphy 12; JDA 52, Eastern Hills 26; Liberty Hill 64, Live Oak Ridge 16; Nolan 35, Manor 27; Palo Alto 27, Patterson 20; Smith 29, Rancier 18
