Basketball Insider: L.D. Bell star learned well from former teammate

To a freshman on the Hurst L.D. Bell varsity girls team, upperclassman were role models for Lexi Gordon, and the Blue Raiders’ Cierra Johnson was that example.

Gordon was named Star-Telegram Newcomer of the Year two years ago as a freshman, the same year Johnson was picked Player of the Year.

Now a junior, Gordon is breaking every Bell record imaginable, including the school’s career scoring mark previously held by Johnson, now a sophomore at UT Arlington.

“Beating Cierra is crazy because my freshman year I looked up to her. I love her so much, she’s like my older sister,” Gordon said. “Seeing how successful she was in high school, exceeding her is an honor.”

Gordon scored 22 points in a win over Haltom on Jan. 15, surpassing Johnson’s mark of 1,739 points. She now has 1,860 points in three years.

“It’s amazing. Hard work pays off and I definitely have been able to prove that,” she said.

Bell, already with a playoff berth, closes the regular season on Tuesday against Haltom. The Raiders are in a three-way tie for second in District 7-6A with Southlake Carroll and Colleyville Heritage.

Gordon is also to set to make her college choice after the season, which includes Baylor, Connecticut, TCU and Texas.

Playoff watch

With the girls regular-season finales on Tuesday, and the UIL playoffs starting Monday, plenty of questions remain.

The area’s Class 6A districts have been decided, with seeding left to be determined. In 5A, five spots are still up for grabs:

5-5A: Saginaw Chisholm Trail (15-11, 7-6) hosts Saginaw Boswell (19-9, 9-4), 6 p.m.; Wichita Falls (11-15, 6-7) at Denton (14-12, 9-4), 6 p.m. If Chisholm Trail wins or Wichita Falls loses, Chisholm Trail clinches. Tiebreaker game is needed if both end at 7-7. Boswell and Denton are tied for second seed.

7-5A: FW Southwest (9-19, 6-7) hosts FW South Hills (9-12, 8-5), 7:30 p.m.; FW Western Hills (8-19, 6-7) hosts FW North Side (8-18, 3-10), 7:30 p.m. Western Hills has the season series against Southwest. South Hills already has the third seed.

8-5A: Granbury (13-16, 6-7) hosts Burleson Centennial (14-12, 9-4), 8 p.m.; Cleburne (13-15, 6-7) hosts Joshua (12-16, 5-8), 8 p.m. Season series tied between Granbury and Cleburne. Centennial already the third seed. Joshua is also in the mix.

14-5A: Mansfield Lake Ridge (15-17, 9-6) at Waxahachie (20-7, 10-5), 6:30 p.m.; Mansfield Legacy (19-13, 9-6) at Arlington Seguin (16-15, 5-10), 6:30 p.m. Two spots remain for three teams and if Legacy and Lake Ridge win, it’s a three-way tie.

On the line

A handful of girls district titles are up for grabs, five in total with the most notable between FW Trimble Tech (20-8, 13-0 7-5A) and FW Arlington Heights (14-10, 12-1), who meet at Heights at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Trimble Tech won the first meeting 56-44 on Jan. 15 and has won 27 straight district games dating to last season.

Scoring barrage

Fort Worth Bethesda Christian is a small private school competing in boys basketball in TAPPS District 2-2A, but the Ambassadors have a real scoring threat in Connor Caskey.

The 5-foot-9 senior point guard is averaging 31.2 points per game and scored a school record 63 points on Jan. 8 in a 76-63 win over Watauga Harvest.

Caskey, who added 11 rebounds and six steals, finished 19 of 34 from the field, 9 of 17 on 3-point baskets and 14 of 18 from the free-throw line.

“During his performance, Connor was getting double- and tripled-teamed and was still hitting every shot he put up,” coach Tim Owen said.

Caskey beat the school’s previous mark of 50 points set by Ryan Dougherty during the 2006-07 season.

“He’s probably the best shooter to come through here,” Owen said.

Caskey also had a 43-point game on Dec. 12, 54 on Dec. 14 and 46 on Dec. 30.

“He’s an all-state player last year and was the only starter that came back. Everybody knows who’s taking the shot in the gym and they still can’t seem to slow him down,” Owen said.

Changing scenery

Three years ago, Tylin Lockett was on a South Grand Prairie boys team that lost the 5A state final to Fort Bend Travis, which had former Kentucky stars Aaron and Andrew Harrison.

Expected to play more his sophomore year, Lockett didn’t get that chance and decided to transfer to Fort Worth Southwest Christian.

Now a senior, Lockett has the Eagles 23-9 and 9-3 in TAPPS District 1-4A with two games left before the postseason. The Eagles are No. 13 in this week’s Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state poll.

“I’m a smart kid and wanted to pursue a career in both academics and basketball,” Lockett said. “When I got to Southwest Christian, we started off 16-0 and took second in district, going to regionals.”

Lockett is among the area scoring leaders at 28.8 points per game.

“This summer I put in a lot of work on my offensive and defensive game to prepare me for my senior season,” he said. “We played better competition in the preseason and are looking for a district and state championship.”

Top boys games

Tuesday

Everman (19-8, 9-2) at Crowley (18-9, 10-1): With three games left, Everman can pull into a tie for first in 8-5A with a win over Crowley, which won the first meeting 40-39.

Cedar Hill (22-3, 8-1) at DeSoto (26-2, 8-1): The winner will have sole possession of first place in 8-6A. Cedar Hill is No. 5 in the state while DeSoto is No. 4.

Friday

Trimble Tech (12-11, 8-1) vs Arlington Heights (15-12, 7-2) at Billingsley: Heights won the first meeting 58-56. Heights is one game back of Tech and FW Southwest for first in 7-5A.

Denton Guyer (26-2, 10-1) at Keller (16-10, 10-1): These two are tied for first in 5-6A while Friday’s winner should have sole possession of the No. 1 seed with the final game on Feb. 16. Guyer won the first meeting 78-68.

Saginaw Chisholm Trail (19-6, 10-1) at Denton (15-10, 10-1): Another first-place battle should take place in 5-5A that includes No. 23 Chisholm Trail. Denton won the first meeting 61-59.

Midlothian Heritage (20-5, 6-1) at Kennedale (19-11, 7-0): Kennedale, which won 80-73 the first time, could win the 7-4A title with a win.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Basketball Insider: L.D. Bell star learned well from former teammate."