by MOSES LEOS III
When: Feb. 12th, 7pm
Where: Canyon Lake High School
Hays: 25-8, 11-3 in 27-4A
SA Brackenridge: 30-5, 14-2 in 28-4A
For the third straight season under head coach Danny Preuss, the Hays Lady Rebels have made their way into the UIL playoffs. They are doing so on a tear, as the team rattled off five straight victories to close out the regular season, one of which was against Schertz Clemens on Jan. 25th, who had been ranked in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Girls’ 4A basketball poll that week.
The stellar finish by the Lady Rebels helped them gain a share of the District 27-4A championship, along with Kerrville Tivy and Clemens.
However, due to district tiebreakers, Hays wound up as the third place team in the district this season. Their reward: Having to face off against 28-4A runner up San Antonio Brackenridge.
Prior to last Tuesday’s loss to 28-4A champion San Antonio Brennan, Brackenridge went on an eight game win streak; the Lady Eagles efforts eventually garnered the squad a top-15 ranking in the TABC poll. During their win streak, Brack won by an average of 38 points per game.
Tuesday’s Bi-district playoff game will feature two teams that are polar opposites of one another.
Brackenridge, which finished the season as the #11 team in the TABC 4A rankings, is a ball club that is predicated on the overwhelming play of their offense. Led by junior Guard Miranda Acuna, who averages 13 points per game, the Lady Eagles’ offense has scored 70 or more points in 10 games this season, reaching the 80 point mark in five contests. Brack’s offense averages just over 61 points per ball game in 2013, with a field goal average of 38%.
Conversely, Hays success has been reliant on stifling defense. Led by junior Forward Jordyne Duggar and senior Forward Jennifer Colonetta’s play in the paint, Hays’ defense continually stepped up to the task of shutting down offensively capable opponents, giving up an average of only 35 points per contest. With the timely shooting of senior Guards Lindsey McCurdy and Rachael Calabrese, Hays has enjoyed tremendous success this season.
The Lady Rebels will be challenged to pull off an upset on Brackenridge, but a strong effort by Hays on defense could make things very interesting late in the ball game.
Prediction: Brackenridge 64-Hays 59
