By Moses Leos III.
Neither ice nor cold weather could halt 15 teams from participating in the 2013 Lady Rebel Classic last weekend.
This year’s tournament featured some of the area’s best teams, including several state ranked opponents.
In the end, Cibolo Steele hoisted the Red (winners) bracket championship trophy; Bryan Rudder finished second and Vista Ridge in third. Pflugerville Hendrickson won the White bracket, while Incarnate Word claimed the Blue bracket.
While Hays and Lehman did not win accolades, both teams hoped the experience readies them for their first district game against each other.
Lady Rebels
As hosts of the Lady Rebel Classic, head coach Danny Preuss wanted his Lady Rebels to prove they could weather a tough tournament.
The Lady Rebels endured a tough road, as the team went 3-2, finishing second in the White Bracket.
Hays’ road began with a physical first game against Bryan Rudder, where they fell 61-48.
Hays and Rudder were tied at 11-11 after one quarter.
However, Rudder’s aggressiveness, along with Lady Rebel offensive miscues, allowed the Lady Rangers to take a 25-23 halftime lead.
Hays attempted to keep pace with the Lady Rangers, but Rudder’s interior prowess proved too great in the second half.
Preuss said the team struggled to finish and rebound effectively.
He also felt the team played to the strengths of Rudder. Their struggle to limit turnovers also was a factor.
Hays finished the first day with a 60-46 win over St. Michaels Academy.
But Rudder defeated San Marcos to begin day two, forcing the Lady Rebels to defeat their in-county rivals to stay in the second place bracket.
The rivalry matchup on Friday didn’t disappoint. After a slow start, Hays held a slim 13-12 lead after a quarter.
But San Marcos began the second on a 5-0 run, led by Bailey Hill, who had a game high 24 points. The Lady Rattlers pulled out to a 20-18 lead late in the first quarter.
Enter Lady Rebel freshman Choon-Hee Chae, who scored six of Hays’ final eight points to close the first half, as Hays led 26-23.
The difference in day two was Hays’ ability to play methodically around the perimeter. Maintaining possession was also key.
“We had five flip passes [in the first half] and all of them were turnovers. We chewed them out at halftime. We don’t do that,” Preuss said. “[The flip passes] stopped in the second half. We took care of the ball today.”
Dugger, who scored 10 points in the game, helped Hays gain a five point advantage in the third.
The Lady Rattlers continued to stay close. Hall’s efforts helped San Marcos pull within three points late in the final quarter.
But Hays’ ability to control the game late earned them a big win.
Hays missed out on the winner’s bracket, but on the horizon was a strong Hendrickson team in the first game in the White Bracket on Saturday. Despite a strong effort, Hays fell 35-26.
Hays found their rhythm, pulling out to a 20-18 lead at the half. It was enough for Preuss to call it the team’s best half of the season.
But the bottom fell out in the second half, as Hays was held to only six points, en route to the loss.
For Preuss, the struggles were a fact of the game.
“Sometimes when it’s that way, you have to find a way to score; maybe get to [foul] line,” Preuss said. “I wasn’t upset by the effort. [The shots] didn’t fall. That’s the biggest thing.”
Hays was relegated to the White Bracket consolation game, where the Lady Rebs blasted St. Stephens Episcopal 66-50.
The team started well enough, leading the game 17-7 after a quarter. However, Hays struggled to keep the momentum going, allowing the Spartans to recover. The Rebels only led 28-22 at intermission.
Preuss said he was not pleased with the first half effort. That changed in the second, as Hays began to pull away, gaining a 39-30 lead.
But the Rebel defense struggled, fouling en masse, and allowing St. Stephens to crawl back with free points.
Hays then rallied, continuing to stave off the Spartans to win their final game of the tournament.
“We always bring each other up. I have great teammates and coaches,” senior Jill Borreson said. “They never let us get down; we don’t hang our heads. That’s what teams are for.”
Preuss was pleased with the overall effort over the five-game stretch. While he felt their two losses were winnable, he understands their tough tournament road was beneficial prior to district.
Senior Borreson seconded that thought.
“I think this was an excellent opportunity for us to get ready for district,” Borreson said. “We have great teams in our district. Placing us in a good pool prepares us for [district play].”
Lady Lobos
Of all the pools in the 2013 Lady Rebel Classic, the Leh-man Lady Lobos had what some might call “the pool of death.”
The Lady Lobos were grouped with two Austin area powerhouses – Pflugerville Hendrickson and state ranked Vista Ridge.
Here, Lehman High point guard Roslyn Walker dives for the ball during the Lady Lobos’ game against Incarnate Word at the Lady Rebel Classic. At top, Hays High’s Jill Borreson (center) fights for possession of the ball with players from Bryan Rudder during the Lady Rebel Classic, which was held Dec. 5-7. Hays High completed the tournament 3-2, finishing second in the White Bracket. (Photos by Moses Leos III) |
As a result, the Lady Lobos struggled, going 1-3 over the weekend. But they hope the experiences gained will translate to district success.
Lehman began with a 67-51 loss to Incarnate Word on Thursday morning. The Lady Lobos endured a shaky start, turning the ball over several times.
Incarnate Word used those turnovers to pull out to a 12-8 advantage. Lehman then went on a 5-0 run to close the first, with senior guard Kayla Johnson drilling a three-pointer to give Lehman a 13-12 lead.
However, the Lady Lobos were outscored 22-5 in the second quarter, as the Lady Shams three-point attack thrived. Alexia Torres, who had a game high 17 points, led the Incarnate Word run, placing the Lobos in a 34-18 deficit.
The Incarnate Word offense hit the gas in the second half, pulling away from Lehman to win.
The Lady Lobos completed the first day with a tough matchup against Hendrickson.
Lehman fought hard on the glass, out rebounding Hendrickson.
However, the Lady Lobos fell 58-44.
Despite the loss, Lehman head coach Jamie Coy was proud of her team’s grit. For senior guard Olivia Marzullo, the chance to play Hendrickson brought out the team’s best.
“Hendrickson was a tough team. We played well against them,” Marzullo said. “When we play a good team, we step up to their level. We increase the intensity.”
The Lobos finished pool play on Friday against third-ranked Vista Ridge.
The Lady Rangers were too much, overpowering Lehman 45-28.
Despite the struggles, Coy understood the importance of playing tough opponents.
“It’s a good experience to play a stronger opponent,” Coy said. “It lets you see what you excel in and what you need to work and focus on. We stepped up and met the challenge.”
Saturday the Lady Lobos turned things around as they defeated St. Michaels 41-38.
Both teams got off to a slow start, ending the first quarter tied 8-8.
Lehman exploded for a 7-0 run to start the second. However, the Crusaders fought back, using the size of Shelby Espinoza, who finished with 20 points. St. Michaels pulled out to a 19-15 lead before Lehman rallied to close the half.
Crucial shots from Marzullo, who scored 16 points, and Angel Cruz helped Lehman go to the half with a 22-21 advantage.
They continued the momentum to start the third, outscoring St. Michaels 7-0. But once again, the Lady Lobos struggled to hold the momentum.
Coy and the offense tried to keep their transition game going, but fundamental issues prevented success. Lehman led by four going into the fourth.
It was enough for Marzullo and the team to rally around each other.
“You’ve got to work hard for your coach, your team and yourself,” she said. “There’s no reason to go on the court and not try. We tried to keep each other up.”
They were tested in the fourth, as St. Michaels kept it close, even taking a 35-34 lead midway through the quarter.
But Lehman held on late for the win.
For Marzullo and the team, they hope their experiences are a stepping stone to success in district.
Coy believes the team will need consistency to attain those goals.
“We need to work on playing consistent and work on strengths,” she said. “If we are able to practice consistently over the next week, and go into district knowing we can be successful against strong teams, we should be alright.”
