No. 1 Amarillo High holds up the Class 5A regional quarterfinal trophy after getting past rival Palo Duro 39-33 at the Caprock Activity Center on Tuesday night. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
No. 1 AHS survives Palo Duro
Despite a valiant effort from Palo Duro, the No. 1-ranked Amarillo High Lady Sandies earned a hard fought 39-33 win against their district rival during a Class 5A regional quarterfinal in front of a near capacity crowd at Caprock on Tuesday.
The Lady Dons zone, and slow tempo frustrated AHS, as the Lady Sandies took a 20-18 lead into half.
In the second half, Rachel Haase got the scoring going for the Lady Sandies, opening the lead to as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter. Haase was the only player on either team to score in double-digits, finishing with 10
The Lady Sandies (35-2 overall) advances to the Region I-5A Tournament for a fifth straight year, and will make their seventh appearance in the last ninth years. AHS, the two-time defending Class 5A state champions, play Lake Dallas (27-8) in a regional semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday at the Scurry Coliseum in Snyder.
Palo Duro’s great season comes to an end at 18-19. The Lady Dons were led by Leyla Wright’s nine points.
Amarillo High 11 20 32 39
Palo Duro 12 18 26 33
AHS— Rachel Haase 10, Ansleigh Westlake 9, Zeryhia Aokuso 9. PD— Leyla Wright 9, Aleea Miller 7, SH’Heniece Matthews 7. Records: Amarillo High 35-2, Palo Duro 18-19.
Class 4A
Lady Whitefaces keep on rolling
A big second half propelled Hereford Lady Whitefaces to a 54-38 victory against district foe Levelland on Tuesday night during a Class 4A regional quarterfinal game at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.
The win is a historic one for Hereford (24-9 overall), which advances the Lady Whitefaces to their first ever Region I-4A Tournament. Hereford now faces Bridgeport (23-5) at 7 p.m. Friday in a regional semifinal at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock.
Hereford also takes the rubber match in the season series from Levelland, which finishes its year at 20-13.
Midway through the third quarter, the Lobotettes had cut the deficit, 30-29. That’s when Lady Whiteface guard Miranda Acosta sparked a key 15-0 that went to the four minute mark of the fourth quarter. Acosta scored five straight points to kick start the run, giving Hereford a 35-29 lead, and they’d never look back. Acosta finished with a game-high 15 points, followed by Taytum Stowe’s 14 and Nayeli Acosta’s 12.
Hereford 10 25 40 54
Levelland 8 19 29 38
H— Miranda Acosta 15, Taytum Stow 14, Nayeli Acosta 13. L— Emma Kent 10, Michaela Watkins 8. Records: Hereford 24-9; Levelland 20-14.
Class 3A
Bushland’s upset bid falls short
The Bushland Lady Falcons pushed No. 8 Shallowater to the final seconds, but came up short during a 45-43 loss in the Class 3A regional quarterfinals at Lubbock Coronado on Tuesday.
Bushland, the District 1-3A champions, end a fantastic season at 22-10 overall.
Shallowater improves to 35-2, and will face No. 2 Jim Ned (25-3) in a Region I-2A semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Hutcherson Center in Plainview.
Tuesday’s contest was close throughout. The Fillies held a 28-24 halftime edge, only to see the Lady Falcons cut that lead, 37-36 after three quarters. Down the stretch, Shallowater built a 45-40 lead in the final minute of the game that was able to standup for the final score.
Bushland’s Taryn Schultz poured in a team-high 20 points despite the loss. Shallowater’s Bree Brattain was tough to stop with 25.
Bushland 11 24 36 43
Shallowater 14 28 37 45
B— Taryn Schultz 20, McKenna Morgan 10. S— Brattain 25. Records: Bushland 22-10; Shallowater 35-2.
Class 1A
No. 1 Naz back in familiar territory
Higgins played with No. 1-ranked Nazareth for a half before the Swiftettes were able to pull away for a 44-25 victory in the Class 1A regional quarterfinal round Tuesday in Panhandle.
This was a tale of two opposite teams. Higgins was making its first appearance in a regional quarter since 1984, while the heralded Swiftettes live in this round.
The Lady Coyotes stayed in the game through the first two quarters, trailing 19-16 at the break.
Nazareth came alive in the second half, opening the lead, and holding Higgins to nine second half points. Swiftettes senior standout Cambrie Heiman was a huge factor scoring a game-high 20 points, followed by Merry Gerber’s 11.
Nazareth (27-8) moves on to its seventh straight Region I-1A Tournament, and will face a rematch with Ropes (29-2) in a regional semifinal at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Texan Dome in Levelland.
Higgins, the District 1-1A champion, and playing in its final year as a school district, ends a historic year at 21-4. Cora Watson led the Lady Coyotes with 15 points.
Higgins 7 16 23 25
Nazareth 10 19 33 44
H–– Cora Watson 15. N–– Cambrie Heiman 20, Merry Gerber 11. Records: Higgins 22-4; Nazareth 27-8.
Claude holds off White Deer
The Claude Lady Mustangs were able to knock off District 2-1A White Deer for a third straight time this season, but this time in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal, 55-45 on Tuesday night at the Canyon Gym.
The Lady Mustangs improve to 29-5 overall, and are headed to the Region I-1A Tournament for the second time in three years. Claude advances to battle a talented New Home (29-4) team in a regional semifinal at 1 p.m. Friday at the Texan Dome in Levelland.
The Does end their season at 17-16.
Tuesday’s game was dictated by free-throws, especially in the second half. The Lady Stangs did secure an early double-digit lead early they’d never relinquish. Junior Lanie Stapp tallied 19 points, as teammate Rene Fouquett chipped in 15. White Deer was led by Emily Bradley’s 11.
Claude 19 33 41 55
White Deer 11 21 31 45
C–– Lanie Stapp 19, Rene Fouquett 15. W–– Emily Bradley 11, Teagan Forney 10. Records: Claude 29-5; White Deer 17-16.