By JASON GORDON
The Lady Rebels were cruising along in the Rebel Classic basketball tournament until running into a brick wall.
That brick wall closely resembled Vista Ridge, the top-ranked team in Class 4A.
After winning two straight games on Thursday against Flour Bluff and Wimberley to advance into the Rebel Classic semifinals, the Lady Rebs learned quickly things weren’t going to be as easy against Vista Ridge Friday afternoon.
Vista Ridge jetted out to a 21-5 lead after one quarter of play and led 36-10 at halftime.
Hays battled back in the second half but still lost the game 54-38.
“Obviously Vista Ridge is a very talented team,” said Hays head coach Danny Preuss. “You don’t get ranked number one in the state in Class 4A for nothing. I was proud of the way we came back in the second half. We outscored them 28-18 after halftime, but we just got too far behind in the first half.”
Jill Borreson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team for Hays, led the Lady Rebels with 11 points and six blocks against Vista Ridge. Rachel Calabrese also had 11 points for Hays.
The loss dropped the Lady Rebs into the third-place game Saturday against Incarnate Word.
Incarnate Word, who sometimes took as much as two or three minutes to get a shot off in its plodding offense, eventually tired out everyone in the stands as well as the Lady Rebels. Hays fell 28-24 and had to settle for fourth place in the tournament.
Hays (10-5) now turns its full attention to the Lehman Lady Lobos.
Lehman and Hays open the district season on Friday at Bales Gym, the exact same site the Lady Lobos beat the Lady Rebs for the first time in team history one year ago.
“When it comes to playing Hays, Lehman always brings their “A” game,” Preuss said. “These girls know each other, and we’re friends off the court, but when that ball is thrown in the air to start the game everyone’s competitive spirit kicks in.”
Hays senior guard Rachel Calabrese said she couldn’t wait to play Friday against the Lady Lobos.
“The Lehman game has always been a huge rivalry,” Calabrese said. “This year will be different than last year. We all remember what happened in our gym. Our goal is to win and to get off to a good start in district.”
Fellow senior guard Lindsey McCurdy agrees.
“Beating Lehman would definitely help us toward our goal of winning district,” McCurdy said. “It was a tough thing to take last year, losing to them. None of us want to have that feeling again.”
