The 2024-2025 basketball season is, well, in the fourth quarter so to speak as four Killeen ISD girls basketball teams entered the bi-district round of the playoffs this week while four boys basketball teams will begin their postseason treks next week.
Girls
KISD’s squads went 2-2 in the opening round with Ellison (26-10) and Chaparral (23-12) moving on and Harker Heights (25-10) and Shoemaker (17-11) coming up just shy of extending their years.
A week after wrapping up an undefeated District 16-5A crown, the Ellison Lady Eagles traveled well north up I-35 to Hillsboro High School where Kaufman (23-9) was waiting Tuesday night.
Ellison returned with an extra passenger on the bus –– a gold ball trophy.
Faith Etienne had 18 points, Jadesola Oladipo added nine, and the Lady Eagles locked in on defense for a stifling 33-21 Class 5A Division II bi-district playoff victory.
Ellison, which hasn’t allowed more than 36 points in a game since Dec. 27, held the Lady Lions to six points in the first half Tuesday.
Next up for the head coach Sherry McKinnon’s Lady Eagles is an area-round encounter against Mesquite Poteet (25-6), which defeated South Oak Cliff 74-28 in its playoff opener, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Robinson High School.
The winner plays Anna or Justin Wakeland in the 5A-DII Region II quarterfinals.
Second place in 16-5A was Chaparral, which hasn’t missed the postseason in its three years as a school.
The Lady Bobcats, now guided by head coach Jennifer Graham, made it two straight bi-district championships with their 67-49 triumph over Midlothian in a 5A Division I matchup Tuesday at Lorena High School.
Chaparral got 28 points and 15 rebounds from Chazlyn Dettor, 22 points and 13 rebounds from Ivy Powell in the victory that set up a second-round game against the North Mesquite Stallions (18-15), who topped Sunset 63-28 to advance, at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at Hillsboro High School.
The winner gets Tyler or Dallas Highland Park in the 5A-DI Region II quarterfinals.
After going 11-1 in District 12-6A to claim the league title, the head coach Shirretha Nelson’s Lady Knights encountered perennial playoff power DeSoto (19-16) in a Class 6A Division II bi-district playoff Tuesday night in China Spring. Harker Heights kept the Lady Eagles close throughout the 32-minute contest but couldn’t overtake the Lady Eagles in a 63-55 setback.
A night earlier, Heights’ 12-6A counterpart Shoemaker, which was second in district and in the playoffs for a third consecutive season, went toe to toe with fourth-ranked Lancaster in its 6A-II first-round tilt at McLennan Community College.
Head coach Elise Kea’s Lady Grey Wolves gave the Lady Tigers fits at times, though, Lancaster’s press defense helped it secure a 63-48 win.
Boys
Class 5A third-ranked Ellison (26-5) wrapped up their third consecutive district title with a 76-57 road win Tuesday night against Lake Belton, moving it to 10-0 in 16-5A.
Head coach Alberto Jones Jr.’s Eagles begin what they hope to be a third straight trip to the Alamodome in San Antonio for the state tournament with a 5A Division II bi-district playoff against Midlothian Heritage (18-17) at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at West High School.
Tuesday also was a banner night for the Harker Heights Knights, who defeated Killeen 62-58 to clinch the outright District 12-6A championship with a 10-2 record.
Head coach Jason Fossett, in his first season at the helm, now will lead the Knights (26-9) into the Class 6A Division II playoffs against No. 23 Mesquite Horn or No. 24 DeSoto at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at China Spring High School.
Shoemaker (17-14) will join the Knights in the 6A-II bracket after downing Waco Midway 52-47 in overtime on Tuesday to secure second place with a 9-3 record in 12-6A.
Head coach Karron Taylor’s Grey Wolves draw No. 5 Lancaster at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Hillsboro High School.
Guided by first-year head coach Christopher Onwukaife, Chaparral Bobcats closed out the regular season with a 68-52 win over Waco on Tuesday and will make the program’s playoff debut against No. 17 Red Oak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Waco Midway High School.
High School Basketball Playoffs
Girls
Area Round
Class 5A Division I
Chaparral vs. North Mesquite, 6 p.m. Friday. Feb. 14, Hillsboro High School
Class 5A Division II
Ellison vs. Mesquite Poteet, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, Robinson High School
Boys
Bi-District Round
Class 6A Division II
Harker Heights vs. DeSoto or Mesquite Horn, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at China Spring High School
Shoemaker vs. Lancaster, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Hillsboro High School
Class 5A Division I
Chaparral vs. Red Oak, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Waco Midway High School
Class 5A Division II
Ellison vs. Midlothian Heritage, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at West High School
