GAMES
RANKINGS
Carlton scores 44 as Seven Lakes takes share of 19-6A title
KATY—Seven Lakes girls basketball coach Angela Spurlock divides the season into three parts.
Season one is preseason. Scrimmages. Non-district play. It gets the Spartans ready for the tests, Spurlock said.
“And around here at Seven Lakes, with grades the way they are, we’re used to studying,” Spurlock joked.
Season two is district play, a contentious and prideful point of the season for a Spartans program not long removed from seven straight district titles.
Those quizzes from the non-district preseason paid off, Spurlock said after Tuesday’s 67-54 win over Cinco Ranch. Rewards were reaped as Seven Lakes, which won for the 30th time in 36 games and ended district play with a 10-2 record, avenged an earlier loss to the Cougars and secured a share of the 19-6A title, Seven Lakes’ first in four years.
“Tonight’s game was a culmination of everything from season one and everything we learned about ourselves in season two,” Spurlock said. “Correcting mistakes that were glaring in losses. Playing uptempo. Changed defenses a little bit. And I think that tempo allowed them (Cinco Ranch) to get out of rhythm.”
A loss would have slid Seven Lakes from a top seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs to the third seed and playing a top seed from District 20-6A in a road game.
“Anytime you can get back to the top, that’s always good,” Spurlock said. “We’re glad to be back. The kids have earned that right. Tompkins did a good job, too, and we’re proud to own that slot with them.”
Cinco Ranch, which will be the third seed out of 19-6A going into the playoffs, with wins over the Spartans and Tompkins, bested Seven Lakes with ease in the first round of district play in a 74-51 win. Freshman star guard Aniya Foy scored 27 points and the Cougars made six threes.
On Tuesday, the Spartans were the aggressors. And it was Seven Lakes sophomore sensation Justice Carlton who stole the spotlight.
Carlton scored 14 of her career-high-tying 44 points in the first quarter. She made 16 2-point baskets, from inside, mid-range, and the outside. She knocked in one of two 3-point attempts. She made nine of 11 free throws.
.@JayMayya busting out the 3. @THEspartanway7 is up 14-4 early. #txhshoops @SLHSABCpic.twitter.com/iLiLLGxAWU— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1644370358
Spurlock used Carlton all over the court. On offense, Carlton often went high-to-low in her movement and kept the defense on its heels, agile and quick enough to catch on the move and often score without putting the ball on the floor.
Defensively, she was used at the top of the Spartans’ press, which played a tall hand—no pun intended for the 6-foot-3 Carlton—in forcing 25 turnovers. Carlton had 10 rebounds, four blocks, and four steals.
Nice block on the 3-point attempt by @JayMayya. #txhshoops @THEspartanway7pic.twitter.com/3nb0FjKI8Q— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1644371897
“Last year, I was mostly on the block,” Carlton said. “But playing over the summer, going to USA basketball and stuff, I just can’t sit down there, especially when those girls are pushing 6-8. It definitely has changed from last year. I’m playing all-around. Shooting outside, shooting off the dribble, off of cuts. It’s definitely what I want to be doing.”
Carlton’s offensive prowess engineered Seven Lakes’ 14-4 start. But it was the relentless defensive play of senior guard Aliyah Atiqi that also made a drastic impact for the Spartans.
Atiqi had three steals in the first quarter and was the initial defender on Foy. Atiqi showed off quick hands, fast feet, and seasoned smarts in stymying Cinco Ranch ballhandlers.
“My role is to bring defensive energy and that’s what we needed to focus on,” said Atiqi, who captained the team’s defensive communication. “The last game against Tompkins, we were not on the same page and our defense was terrible. For this game, we prepared and worked, and my job was to step up and help us get this win.”
Atiqi’s stat line was nothing showy, but she made winning plays. She finished with four steals, three rebounds, three assists, and a clutch 3-pointer from the left corner in the third quarter that extended the Spartans’ lead from six to nine.
.@AliyahAtiqi for 3. Big bucket. Nice set-up by KK Tucker. #txhshoops @THEspartanway7 @SLHSABCpic.twitter.com/dBz2pdAEex— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1644372785
Atiqi and sophomore Caitlyn Quintero, who came off the bench for two steals, two rebounds, and a nice bucket in the second half, were difference-makers when it mattered most.
“They were big,” Spurlock said. “Anytime we decided to put pressure on, our back row has to come up and decide to play bigger than they are. They have to be aggressive, finish traps. Get touches. We got a few more deflections, and they definitely earned the win.”
Foy finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals, but picked up three fouls with 3:09 left in the first half and never got into a groove the rest of the way. Nine of her points came in the first quarter.
.@Foy2025 again. Nice triple. #txhshoops @CincoGirlsHoopspic.twitter.com/YxW6zm2WYF— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1644370529
Cinco Ranch made only two 3s on Tuesday as Seven Lakes was better closing out to shooters. The Cougars never sustained a flow offensively due to all the turnovers: four in the first quarter, five in the second, nine in the third, and seven in the fourth.
“We picked up the tempo a bit,” Spurlock said. “We played a different style. We put in some things. We’ve learned a lot since we started about our team and about the things we have to do coming into season three.”
Season three is the playoffs, which start up next week.
The Spartans lost in the first round last year, but with a rapidly evolving Carlton and a stronger supporting cast like Atiqi and senior guards KK Tucker and Summer Halphen, among others, Seven Lakes is eager to see what lies ahead after its first district title since the 2017-18 season.
“It’s a dream,” Atiqi said. “We’ve been talking about it since freshman year, and it’s been our goal since the beginning. Even though we lost to Tompkins last week, we knew we had this game and still had a chance to be district champs. We haven’t been there in a while and we’re really proud of where we are right now.”
.@THEspartanway7 sophomore forward @JayMayya talks about tonight\u2019s win over Cinco Ranch that secured Seven Lakes a share of the District 19-6A title. Carlton had a career-high-tying 44 points to go with 10 rebounds and four blocks. #txhshoops @KatyISDAthletic @SLHSABC @KPRC2pic.twitter.com/leuNdsnsfR— VYPE Houston (@VYPE Houston) 1644378898
4-Pointers: Katy 61, Cinco Ranch 44
KATY—The ethos of this year’s Katy High girls basketball team is not unlike its gridiron counterpart. Smart, selfless offensive execution. Irrepressible defensive intensity. Team.
There are no prominent recruits on this year’s Tigers roster. No showcase, highlight-stealing talents. Yet.
But it hasn’t mattered. Katy has mucked up the standings in what looked to be a top-heavy District 19-6A and consistently found ways to win big games.
The Tigers snapped Cinco Ranch’s five-game winning streak in demonstrative fashion Friday evening, 61-44, finishing a season sweep of the Cougars.
Four pointers from a crucial game in a district in which the top four teams are only separated by three games in the loss column.
>> TEAM, TEAM, TEAM
Against a Cinco Ranch team that boasts two of the more dynamic talents in the city in freshman Aniya Foy and junior Dani Williams, Katy won in a rout because of its all-for-one pedigree.
The Tigers had four players in double-figure scoring, and another with nine. Senior Ashlei Angel led with 14 points. Junior Lyric Barr added 13 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Nyla Wold threw in 11 points off the bench. Sophomore Ashlynn Alexander added 10 points. Junior Brianna Nelson finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Lyric Barr 3-ball. She\u2019s 2-4 from deep for @KTGirlsHoops. #txhshoops @khs_livepic.twitter.com/EwGNm8B3hi— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1643420346
The sum of Katy’s parts was more than enough to thwart the Cougars’ dynamic duo. Foy finished with a game-high 16 points, six rebounds and three steals, but seven of her points came in the fourth quarter when the game was decided. Williams added 10 points.
The two combined to shoot just 2-for-9 from 3-point range.
“We knew what we had to do,” Nelson said. “We had to fight really hard, because the last time it was close, and we went into overtime. So, we went into this game knowing they’re not going to be easy, and we had to work hard together.”
Katy’s halfcourt execution was practically flawless. The Tigers moved the ball quickly, looked for the open shooter, and got quality looks, particularly from the perimeter. Smart skip passes and Alexander’s speed and dribble penetration opened up a barrage of open corner 3-point looks.
Ashlei Angel 3. @KTGirlsHoops\u2019 haifcourt offensive execution has been impressive. Tigers up 45-21, late 3Q. #txhshoops @khs_livepic.twitter.com/VEhjGOgdDe— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1643421526
Katy made seven of 20 3s for a 35-percent clip.
“We’re sisters out there,” Angel said. “We all know where we’re at, at all times. It’s different. You find very few teams who have the sisterly bond we have. It’s an amazing environment.”
>> FOY LIMITED
Foy, one of the top players in the Greater Houston area for the Class of 2025, entered the game averaging a team-high 15.8 points. Through the first half, as Katy built a 32-15 lead at the break, Foy had just five points as she was mired in foul trouble for most of the first two quarters.
“Just staying in front of her,” Angel said of what was key. “She’s a great player. She really is. But being able to stay with her and get help, and knowing where she is on the court at all times.”
Foy had a strong fourth quarter with seven points, five rebounds and two steals as she tried her best to rally Cinco Ranch. Often, she showed off the quickness, strength, ballhandling, and footwork that make her a dangerous cover.
Man. Very tough shot by @Foy2025. Definitely knows how to get to her spots. #txhshoops @CincoGirlsHoopspic.twitter.com/5CdGqYNRtj— Dennis Silva II (@Dennis Silva II) 1643423183
But it wasn’t enough. Katy kept Cinco Ranch from running in transition and forced Foy to play against stifling, focused set defenses.
“Always know where she is,” Katy coach Shanna Marhofer said. “If that means our elbow spot doesn’t defend in the high post because they’re extending on her, she’s more important. Take her away. Her and 15 (Williams).”
>> FAST START
In the first round of district play, Katy had to fight its way back into games often due to slow starts. Marhofer said it is an emphasis during this second round of district play that the Tigers start off quarters better.
That was the case against Cinco Ranch. Katy started the game on an 8-0 run and outscored Cinco Ranch in the second quarter, 18-4.
In the third quarter, the Tigers pushed their advantage to more than 20 points early to keep the Cougars on their heels.
“We started very well,” Marhofer said. “We knew the start of each quarter would be super important. How the first three minutes of each quarter are the deciding factor. We came out determined and ready each quarter and ready to fight.”
>> TOUGH DISTRICT
How formidable is 19-6A girls hoops?
Cinco Ranch, currently third in district at 6-3, has wins over state-ranked Seven Lakes and two-time defending district champ Tompkins. Katy, currently fourth at 6-4, has a district season sweep of Cinco Ranch.
Tompkins is in second place at 7-2, with losses to Seven Lakes and Cinco Ranch. Seven Lakes is currently first at 7-1, with its loss to Cinco Ranch.
Katy has five-point losses each to Seven Lakes and Tompkins, and still has to face them again to finish out the second round of district play.
“We’ve had bumps in the road, so winning this game helps us advance and gives us confidence,” Nelson said. “We know we’re a good team when we play together.”
Marhofer said the way the Tigers are winning is especially encouraging.
“We’re playing well,” she said. “We’re playing team ball. We’re fighting and working hard. The same energy you see in practice, you see in the game. Hopefully, in the postseason, that will translate into great things.”