by JASON GORDON
Brooke Borreson (42) and the Hays girls basketball team hope to begin another run to the state tournament as the playoff season begins on Feb. 16. (Photo by Rudy Gonzalez)
After suffering their first loss of the season in district play against Del Valle, the Hays girls basketball team took out its frustrations on overmatched Elgin Friday night.
Hays jetted out to a 30-13 lead at halftime and never looked back in a 69-30 victory.
The win closes out the Lady Rebels regular season totals with a 24-9 overall record and an 11-1 mark in District 17-4A. Hays and Del Valle finished the season as co-district champions and will flip a coin to determine who gets the district’s top seed in the postseason.
The Lady Rebels will likely play either Magnolia or Magnolia West in the first round of the playoffs on Feb. 16, in either Columbus or Bryan.
“I was a little bit worried because Elgin has been playing well at home,” Hays head coach Donny McDonald said. “They had beaten San Marcos and Lehman, but we really came out and shot the ball well. I wish we would have shot it like that against Del Valle the other night.”
Del Valle head coach Tawni Angel and McDonald decided to flip a coin instead of taking part in a one-game playoff between the two teams to determine the top seed.
“It’s always intense when Hays and Del Valle play, so I don’t think either of us wanted to risk an injury,” McDonald said. “We’ve been battling injuries all year, so I think it was definitely the right decision for us. They don’t have a lot of depth, so I think it was probably the right decision for Del Valle too. Plus, the teams we’ll be facing in the first rounds and the second rounds are pretty similar so there’s no clear advantage for having the top seed.”
Two of Hays’ top posts, Ashley Magallanez and Brooke Borreson, have been playing at less than 100 percent strength all season.
Hays will have 11 days off between the game against Elgin and the opening round of the playoffs. McDonald said he doesn’t plan on having Hays play a warm-up game during that time frame.
“We’ve played warm-up games before, but I think this year the best thing for us is to heal up and get ready for the playoffs,” McDonald said. “I think it will be good for us to refocus and hopefully get ready for another good playoff run.”
Last season, Hays rolled through Class 4A Region III in the playoffs, ultimately beating rival Del Valle 41-40 in the regional finals in Houston to advance to the state tournament.
“I think it can happen again,” said Hays guard Chrissy Arias. “We’ll need to play every game in the playoffs like it’s our last. That’s what we did last season.”
McDonald said he hopes his team understands exactly that – one more loss and it’s over.
“I’m not sure it’s totally sunk in with everyone yet that we’re at the point where our next loss means the season ends,” McDonald said. “Now’s the time to catch fire; there are no second chances anymore.”
