Cedar Park girls cap perfect season with win over Georgetown
CEDAR PARK — Senior forward Shelby Hayes helped No. 1 Cedar Park power past rival Georgetown and secure the first perfect regular season in school history.
Hayes, a 6-foot-1 post signed with Rice, scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the defending state champion Timberwolves (30-0, 14-0 District 25-5A) rolled to a 50-24 win over Georgetown to secure their fifth straight unbeaten district championship.
“This was our last regular season home game, and we were playing a really good team," said Hayes, a four-year starter who helped the Wolves go 52-0 in district play during her career. "We wanted to finish strong, and it was exciting to end district this way."
The game was close early as Georgetown (26-10, 10-2) played strong defense and trailed just 8-6 after a quarter. Hayes then took over the paint in the second quarter with 10 points to stake the Timberwolves to a 20-8 halftime lead.
“Shelby was great, and our defense held Georgetown to two points in that second quarter," said coach Donny Ott, who has yet to lose a district game as the Wolves' head coach. "Defense is really what we do, and I looked up and realized that we were up by 12 at the half and they had only scored two baskets in the first half. I knew our defense was really taking care of the ball."
More: Lago Vista's Sarah Long named player of the week; Westlake nabs team honors
Leading 20-8 at the half, despite poor shooting from everyone except Hayes, Cedar Park clicked offensively in the third quarter. The Timberwolves got four points from Gisella Maul, four more points from Hayes, then back-to-back 3-pointers by Molly Ly and Rece Merrill and a basket underneath from Angie Sacco while building a 35-13 lead.
“I am just so proud of this team," Ott said. "They have worked so hard all season, pushing each other, and working every day, always focused and always picking each other up. They are a wonderful group."
Niah Williams led the Eagles with seven points and five rebounds while Taylor Meyners added six points as Georgetown finished second in District 25-5A. The Eagles are 24-4 in district play the past two seasons under legendary coach Rhonda Farney, with all four losses coming to Cedar Park.
Last season, Georgetown advanced to the regional finals before losing again to the Timberwolves.
In other action on the last game of the regular season, Lexi Alexander had 17 points and 12 rebounds as Cedar Ridge beat McNeil 40-37 and secured a share of the District 25-6A title. Cedar Ridge, McNeil and Vista Ridge all tied for the title. In a coin flip late Tuesday night, Cedar Ridge won the top seed and will play District 26-6A fourth-place team San Marcos while Vista Ridge finishes second and will play Lake Travis. McNeil takes the third seed and faces Westlake, which captured the second-place spot by beating Lake Travis 52-24. District 26-6A champion Austin High will face Vandegrift.
In District 18-5A, Hendrickson capped its second straight undefeated district championship by beating Weiss 67-48 behind 17 points from freshman Niyah Waters and 17 points from sophomore Tatyanna Bailey. Hendrickson has advanced to three straight regional tournaments under head coach Norma Sierra, including two in Class 6A and last year in Class 5A.
In other action in 18-5A, Pflugerville beat Cedar Creek 77-17 as Aamaria Wright had 14 points and Meliyah Markley added 13 points. Pflugerville led 28-0 after the first quarter.
Expanded coverage
For more stories and photo galleries out of Tuesday's boys and girls basketball games, go to statesman.com/sports.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: High school basketball: Cedar Park girls cap perfect season, beat Georgetown
