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5 Things To Know About Austin Area Girls Basketball Playoffs
The 2019-2020 UIL girls basketball postseason begins tonight and there are interesting Austin area storylines going into it. Check out five things to know.
No. 1: Westlake Wants To Snap Another State Title Drought
What does Westlake girls basketball have in common with the Dallas Cowboys? The first similarity occurred in a four-year span in the 1990s. The Chaparrals girls basketball program earned a trio of UIL state championships during the 1992-1993, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 seasons and America's Team won three Super Bowl titles in the 1992-1993, 1993-1994 and 1995-1996 seasons. Their other connection is the fact that they haven't won a title of that magnitude since. The Cowboys have a lot of work to do if they want to return to that stage, but Westlake has a great opportunity to top the 2019-2020 UIL 6A girls basketball postseason. Its girls basketball team paid close attention to the school's football team, which closed out its first state championship since 1996 in December. It plans to add to its 28-6 regular season record by leaning on seniors Shay Holle (Texas signee), Presley Bennett (Texas State signee) and Bailee Chynoweth.
No. 2: Cedar Park Is A Basketball Hotbed
The Austin Toros/Spurs franchise, which has called the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park home since 2010, first put Cedar Park basketball on the map when it won the 2012 NBA D-League championship and later added the 2018 NBA G League title. Now, its two public high schools are aiming for additional basketball crowns at the end of the 2019-2020 UIL 6A and 5A girls basketball postseasons. We start with Cedar Park Vista Ridge, who enters the 6A dance with a 27-6 record, a 13-6A district title and big time ballers in AJ Marotte, Victoria Baker and Zion Neat. Its crosstown rival, Cedar Park, earned an undefeated 17-5A district crown, owns an impressive 29-3 record and is led by notable playmakers Nicole Leff, Hanna Wheeler and Alisa Knight.
No. 3: 27-4A Playoff Teams Are Ready For Deep Runs
27-4A is such a strong district that three of its four playoff qualifiers won 20-plus regular season games. That included Liberty Hill (21), Salado (23) and Lampasas (25), who finished first, second and fourth in the final district standings. The only outlier was third-place Burnet, who finished with an 18-18 regular season record and advanced to the 2019 UIL 4A state semifinal.
No. 4 Georgetown ISD Rivalry Deserves A Playoff Meeting
Georgetown East View edged Georgetown for the 18-5A district crown during the 2019-2020 girls basketball regular season, so both the Patriots and Eagles are teams to watch going into the UIL 5A postseason. The Pats pulled out important crosstown rivalry wins by the scores of 46-42 and 42-41 to top Georgetown by a game in the district standings and earn a slight 26 to 25 regular season win advantage. With the teams' competitiveness during district play, we can all hope for a third season meeting in the UIL 5A Region III Final.
No. 5: Fayette County Fighters
Fayette County, which covers the southeastern portion of the Austin area, is home to state-ranked La Grange and Schulenburg. The UIL 4A Leopards and UIL 3A Shorthorns both enter the UIL postseason with a 29-4 record.
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Masters' Signature Moment Helps Shadow Creek, Alvin ISD Finish On Top
When you're given an opportunity to do something great, you better jump at it. Shadow Creek's Randy Masters definitely answered the call in Friday's 28-22 UIL 5A Division I football state championship win against Denton Ryan at Arlington's AT&T Stadium. The play he'll be remembered for was a 37-yard punt return touchdown at the 5:43 mark of the second quarter that followed Riley Nuzzo's nine-yard illegal punt attempt. Shadow Creek ultimately declined Denton Ryan's penalty in favor of the go-ahead 14-8 score and a lead the rest of the game.
"I [saw] that the momentum went away from the other team once the ball started rolling on the ground," Masters said of the play. "I looked and viewed the whole field, so I went [and] scooped it up. We practice all the time on plays. So, I went and got it, and did what I did."
Highlight by VYPE Media's Joshua Koch:
Shadow Creek also scored on a pair of Kyron Drones' rushing touchdowns and a Kelvon Brown scoring scamper, but Masters' special teams play and his team's ensuing extra point were the difference in the Sharks' six-point victory.
Seth Henigan's 26-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Tavion Sanders set up that margin with 1:14 left in the game, and his last second prayerful incompletion gave Denton Ryan a chance on the final play of the game.
But, it wasn't enough, as Alvin ISD broke its two-year losing streak in the UIL 5A Division I state title game. The district suffered Manvel's heartbreaking 53-49 loss against Highland Park in 2017 and Shadow Creek's 27-17 loss against Highland Park in 2018.
"I love all my guys," said Masters. "Coaches, players, staff. Whoever helped us get to this point. We worked so hard from the beginning, day one, so I'm just proud. I couldn't be happier."
With the win, Shadow Creek improves to 31-1 in UIL varsity football competition and Alvin ISD earned its first UIL football state championship.
For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) on Twitter.
Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.