The growth of a program can be fun to watch. Last year, Byron Nelson's girls basketball team made the Class 4A playoffs as the third seed. But expectations have grown for 2012-2013.
Coach Darren Wilson wanted his program to exceed the 18 wins it collected last year, claim at minimum 10 district wins and compete for the District 5-4A championship.The Lady Bobcats have accomplished one and have a chance to collect a second. With a 46-31 win victory at Lake Dallas this past Friday, the squad won its school-record 19th game to improve to 19-10. At 8-3 with three games remaining in the season, the team began the week with a chance to attain double-digit district wins. On Tuesday, they played host to Denton Guyer, which beat them in the first round in Denton. A district championship appeared remote, since district leader Wichita Falls Rider was 11-0.Still, Nelson has clinched a playoff spot. With Lake Dallas at 5-6, the Lady Bobcats have clinched because even if they lose their last three and the Lady Falcons win their last three to finish at 8-6, Nelson would advance because it won both meetings with Lake Dallas."We want to get to 10 because you get a better chance to enter as a higher seed," Wilson said. "We're definitely improving and we're trying to get some better consistency. The right things are in motion for us. We're playing better team ball."Without Tralyn Woodard on Friday, the Lady Bobcats handled themselves accordingly as Madison Edwards and Shaila Wolter combined for 25 points. Wilson said Woodard sat out with an undisclosed injury but would be back in action Tuesday of this week.Wilson has been told by third-party observers that this team doesn't even look like the previous edition. Defensively, not much has changed. However, the offense is moving better. Plus, this team can win without one of its better players. Nelson had 15 assists in the win over Lake Dallas."Offense was a bit of an issue last year," Wilson said. "Now, our girls have the experience to make the adjustments. It used to be where we had to have four offensive trips down the floor to figure things out. You can see them working things out."Positioning beginningWith Rider about to lock up the district championship, Nelson, Guyer and Wichita Falls are battling for second.Guyer was in second place at 9-2 before Tuesday's game at Nelson. The Lady Bobcats were third. Wichita Falls was in fourth at 7-4. Following Tuesday, the Lady Bobcats travel to the Red River to play at Wichita Falls. There's a chance to finish tied for second or to fall to fourth."Without a doubt, there's going to be a lot of movement," Wilson said. "Really, there's going to be a playoff atmosphere because there is so much at stake in these last three games. The girls know what's at stake."It's never too early to peak at bi-district opponents from District 6-4A. Saginaw is leading district, followed by Fort Worth Dunbar and Saginaw Boswell. But it's too early to determine what any kind of first round playoff matchups will look like.Northwest updateIt was another difficult week for the Lady Texans (2-25, 0-11 in 4-5A). They lost at Haltom, 39-33, in a game where it wasn't as close as the score indicated. Then Carroll ran away from them, 77-31. Brianna Barnhill averaged 8.5 points during the week. Northwest played at Keller Timber Creek on Tuesday and plays host to Richland on Friday.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
