Girls basketball recap (2/18): Lake Ridge, Trinity snap droughts and more from Fort Worth area

Girls

Mansfield Lake Ridge 49, Rockwall 35

The Lake Ridge defense held Rockwall well under its season average during the Eagles’ Class 6A Region 2 area round win on Friday night at Highland Park.

Lake Ridge (17-14), the fourth-place team from District 11-6A, moves on to its first regional quarterfinal round since 2015, where it will play district rival and the state’s No. 1 team DeSoto, at 7:45 p.m. Monday at Arlington ISD Athletics Center.

Rockwall (23-12) came into the night averaging 48 points per game, but only managed nine points in the first quarter and 16 in the first half.

Kylie Marshall, who’s a Top 5 scorer in the Fort Worth area, scored nine points in the first quarter and a game-high 21 points. She didn’t score in the fourth quarter, but got help from 6-2 post Liz Abiara, who had 11 of her 20 points in the final period.

Rockwall got within 13-11 in the second quarter, but a Lake Ridge three pushed it back to five. Brooklyn McKinley ended the quarter with a steal and fast break layup to send the Eagles to a 25-16 lead at halftime.

Marshall opened the third with a three from the right wing, but Lake Ridge stumbled and didn’t score for the next 3 1/2 minutes. Rockwall inched its way back, but not enough as Lake Ridge went up 10 at the end of three following a long two from Gavyn Robinson.

Lake Ridge’s biggest lead in the fourth was 15 points as Abiara was a force in the paint starting with a three-point play followed by several offensive rebounds, put backs and trips to the free throw line.

Rockwall, which was playing in the area round for the first time since 2018, was led by Iowa State softball signee Ashley Minor’s 16 points. Nicole Aguirre added nine.

Euless Trinity 58, EP Franklin 46

Trinity picked up another upset victory after its 6A Region 1 area round win over District 1-6A champ Franklin on Friday. The Trojans (20-13) are headed to the regional quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 where they will face district rival LD Bell.

The Trojans found themselves struggling in the first quarter with a 25-15 deficit, but the team picked it up with a 37-28 lead at halftime. Trinity scored 23 in the period and held Franklin to just three points.

Franklin knocked down three threes in the third quarter to get back within six, but the Trinity defense again stepped up in the fourth as Franklin made just one field goal and two free throws for a total of four points.

Alisha Nunley led Trinity with 16 of her 24 points in the first half. Jayla Stewart added eight and Bre’awn Gates poured in 13. Kamryn Taylor chipped in eight.

LD Bell 36, Midland Legacy 34

Bell made some big shots down the stretch to hold off Legacy in a 6A Region 1 area round game on Friday to set up a date with long time rival Euless Trinity in the regional quarterfinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday from UTA.

Bell improved to 28-8 on the season.

The Blue Raiders led a low scoring first half, 18-11 during intermission.

But Legacy out scored Bell 9-8 in the third quarter and 14-10 in the fourth to make it close. Hallie Rhodes led Bell with a game-high 23 points. Her twin sister, Jayden, added eight points.

Sanger 67, Alvarado 44

Alvarado couldn’t find an answer to Sanger’s 6-3 post Bella Ringenberg and guard Lexi Martin during its 4A Region 2 area round game on Friday in Grapevine.

Ringenberg dominated inside scoring 27 points and pulling down nine rebounds even after sitting out much of the third quarter. Martin added 20 points, 18 of which came on six three-pointers.

Alvarado’s only lead came at the 5:29 mark of the first quarter when Joslyn Jarmon made a pair of free throws to go up 4-3. It was all Sanger after that.

Sanger (29-4), No. 13 in the final 4A state rankings, went on an 11-2 run and led 14-6 after Martin buried a three with 2:01 left in the opening frame.

Sanger was selfless dishing out 20 assists, led by Abby Odom’s nine. Odom and Carly Schmucker (five assists) set Ringenberg and Martin up for most of their shots.

Alvarado’s Jacie McCullough had 20 points, including four three-pointers, while Candra Bridgewater and Jarmon chipped in nine points each.

The Indians (24-14) had won their first girls basketball playoff game since the 1990-91 season earlier in the week against Dallas Pinkston. Pinkston beat Alvarado by 49 points in the playoffs a year ago.

Coincidentally, first-year head coach Erica Peteet’s mom, Shanna Peteet, played on the 90-91 Alvarado team.

Sanger will meet No. 8 Kennedale (30-6) in the regional quarterfinals at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Carrollton Turner.

Southlake Carroll 56, EP Pebble Hills 36

The Dragons (27-5) scored the first eight points and never looked back as they won their 6A Region 1 area round game on Friday.

Carroll advances to its second straight regional quarterfinal round where it will play Boswell.

Camryn Tade poured in a double double with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Milania Jordan added 16 points and five boards. Taryn Barnes filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Boswell 57, Wolfforth Frenship 49

Nya Robertson, the No. 1 scorer in the Fort Worth-area, dropped 23 points with 13 in the second quarter as the Pioneers hung on to beat Frenship in a 6A Region 1 area round game on Friday.

Boswell (31-6), the top-ranked 6A area team at the end of the regular season, advances to its fourth regional quarterfinal round in five seasons to play Carroll at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Justin Northwest.

The second quarter proved to be the difference as Boswell out scored Frenship 18-6. The Pioneers held Frenship to two field goals and a single free throw in the period.

Miraya Perkins and Chloe Mann chipped in 12 and 11 points for Boswell.

Boys

Joshua 67, Waco University 55

The Owls won the third-place seeding game for District 14-5A on Friday night at Italy. No. 3 Joshua will face District 13-5A runner-up Forney in the 5A Region 2 bi-district round on Tuesday from Waxahachie.

Joshua led 18-14 at the end of the first quarter and 30-25 at intermission.

The Owls went 20 of 29 from the line, including 14 of 21 in the fourth quarter. They were led by Trenton Lane’s 29 points. Bailey Sosebee added 22 points with four threes.

Brock 42, Peaster 30

The Eagles beat the Greyhounds in Tuesday’s regular season finale to force a co-championship in District 8-3A and then beat them again on Friday in Aledo in the first-place seeding game.

Brock will be No. 1 in next week’s playoff opener. Peaster will be No. 2.

Brock will face Bowie at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Jacksboro.

Godley 62, Alvarado 47

The Wildcats clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in district, beating the Indians in a play in game on Friday. Alex Schmidt led Godley with 31 points and hit nine threes. Jarret Ilich added 14.

Godley will open with Dallas Carter at 7 p.m. Tuesday from Mansfield Lake Ridge.

This story was originally published February 18, 2022 at 10:35 PM.