GAMES
RANKINGS
Olivia Walker of SBS has great shot at State
SHOOTING THEIR SHOT: Which TAPPS girls hoop teams have best shot at winning State?
Houston is loaded with challengers.
See who has best shot at bringing home gold.
Class 6A
The battle to beat Antonian College Prep in the TAPPS 6A playoff begins today. The Village School is on the other side of the bracket and could be a good challenge. St. Agnes, Concordia Lutheran, Incarnate Word and St. Pius X will also represent Houston this postseason.
Class 5A
In Class 5A TAPPS, Second Baptist School is trying to get to the mountain top after getting to the State Final Four the last few years. Olivia Walker, Ella Ryan, Liv Sauvageau and Kate Marshall have great basketball IQ and chemistry. Expect the Eagles to be back at State in late February. Lutheran South and FBCA will also challenge.
Class 4A
Legacy Prep Christian Academy is in the same boat at Second Baptist School. So close, but not able to snatch the gold. Could this be the year? Cypress Christian and Bay Area Christian are other Greater Houston schools in the mix.
Class 3A
Houston’s best chance for a State Title could be Rosehill Christian School up in Tomball. The Eagles can hoop with Mercy Freeman and Klein Cain transfers Caitlin and Madison Wilson, who are twins. The Eagles are 18-2 on the season.
St. Agnes Academy’s Piper Stephenson, NiMya Maruska and Ariel Francis
The Contenders: St. Agnes Academy Tigers
Though St. Agnes graduated some premier talent in all-stater Sophie Agee and all-district standouts Grace Webber and Alexis Visintine, the Tigers return first-team, all- state pick Piper Stephenson (319 kills, 46 blocks). Stephenson is committed to the University of Washington to play sand volleyball.
Also keep an eye on senior setter Ariel Francis (502 assists, 202 digs, 32 aces), senior outside hitter NiMya Maruska (207 kills, 53 blocks), who was honorable mention all-state, to make an impact in the attack. In the middle, Rowan Haecker (47 blocks) and Grace Morton (58 blocks) will be the defensive stoppers.
St. Agnes Academy has enough talent in the cupboard to make a run to the State Tournament for a fourth straight season.
