Sports > Schools
12-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Skeeters crush Longview to set up showdown with Horn
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
The second half of the 12-5A season tipped off with two of the three district co-leaders--Horn and Rockwall--battling it out.
Meanwhile, the third of the 12-5A leaders, Mesquite, went about its business in East Texas, taking apart Longview in a 63-33 victory on Tuesday.
The Skeeter win, coupled with the Jaguars' 41-31 victory over Rockwall, sets up a clash for first place when Mesquite hosts Horn on Friday. Both teams will enter the contest with identical 6-1 records.
The Lobos were looking to make a statement on how far they had come after winning three consecutive games, but the Skeeters instead showed them how far they still had to go.
Mesquite had won its first five district games by an average of 31 points per game and were nearly spot on with the 30-point margin.
The Skeeter defense did the job early on as they took a 25-15 halftime lead. Mesquite exceeded that point total in the third quarter alone, outscoring the Lobos 26-12 to take a commanding 25-point lead going to the fourth.
Brianna Williams scored 18 points, Briana Caro added 13 and Viershanie Latham chipped in with 11 for the Skeeters.
Mesquite will not only have a chance to avenge its lone district loss, but also take over sole possession of first place with a win over the Jaguars, who put the defensive clamps on Rockwall in not allowing a field goal in the second half to rally for a 41-31 victory on Tuesday.
North Mesquite had an opportunity to climb to within a game of the fourth and final playoff spot, but instead, had its postseason hopes take a serious hit with a 67-43 loss to Rockwall-Heath.
The Stallions (1-6) never could get things going, but they were still within striking distance trailing 31-20 at halftime.
Those hopes ended in the third quarter as the Hawks reeled off a 24-6 run to put the game away and earn their first district win.
Emily Malone had 16 points and Ashley Rivera added 10 for North Mesquite.
If the Stallions are going to make a late-season run, they are running out of time. North Mesquite needs wins now, starting with Friday's game against Tyler Lee, the team directly ahead of them in the 12-5A standings.
In addition to Friday's showdown, Mesquite will play at Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday while Horn will host Longview.
FRIDAY
As the first half of the 11-5A season came to a close on Friday, there was nothing Mesquite could do to protect its district lead.
The idle Skeeters could only watch as Horn and Rockwall each won their respective games to forge a three-way tie atop the standings.
Horn put together one of its most dominant defensive performances of the season on Friday with a 61-15 blowout win over North Mesquite.
The Jaguars opened the game on a 20-2 run and that set the tone for the entire night for the Stallions, who were unable to score more than seven points in any quarter.
Horn pushed the lead to 37-6 at halftime, getting 16 points from Kristina Smith, 14 from Lauren Bradshaw and nine by Jada Underwood.
Makqhuisha Carruth scored six points and Tyree Brown added four for the Stallions.
STANDINGS
Horn 6-1 18-6
Mesquite 6-1 17-10
Rockwall 5-2 19-8
Longview 3-4 15-10
Tyler Lee 2-4 12-15
North Mesquite 1-6 6-18
Rockwall-Heath 1-6 8-14
Tuesday's Results
Horn 41, Rockwall 31
Mesquite 63, Longview 33
Rockwall-Heath 67, North Mesquite 43
Tyler Lee, bye
Friday's Results
Horn 61, North Mesquite 15
Rockwall 68, Longview 53
Tyler Lee 51, Rockwall-Heath 30
Mesquite, bye
Friday's Games
Horn at Mesquite
Tyler Lee at North Mesquite
Rockwall-Heath at Rockwall
Longview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall-Heath
Longview at Horn
Rockwall at Tyler Lee
North Mesquite, bye
Meanwhile, the third of the 12-5A leaders, Mesquite, went about its business in East Texas, taking apart Longview in a 63-33 victory on Tuesday.
The Skeeter win, coupled with the Jaguars' 41-31 victory over Rockwall, sets up a clash for first place when Mesquite hosts Horn on Friday. Both teams will enter the contest with identical 6-1 records.
The Lobos were looking to make a statement on how far they had come after winning three consecutive games, but the Skeeters instead showed them how far they still had to go.
Mesquite had won its first five district games by an average of 31 points per game and were nearly spot on with the 30-point margin.
The Skeeter defense did the job early on as they took a 25-15 halftime lead. Mesquite exceeded that point total in the third quarter alone, outscoring the Lobos 26-12 to take a commanding 25-point lead going to the fourth.
Brianna Williams scored 18 points, Briana Caro added 13 and Viershanie Latham chipped in with 11 for the Skeeters.
Mesquite will not only have a chance to avenge its lone district loss, but also take over sole possession of first place with a win over the Jaguars, who put the defensive clamps on Rockwall in not allowing a field goal in the second half to rally for a 41-31 victory on Tuesday.
North Mesquite had an opportunity to climb to within a game of the fourth and final playoff spot, but instead, had its postseason hopes take a serious hit with a 67-43 loss to Rockwall-Heath.
The Stallions (1-6) never could get things going, but they were still within striking distance trailing 31-20 at halftime.
Those hopes ended in the third quarter as the Hawks reeled off a 24-6 run to put the game away and earn their first district win.
Emily Malone had 16 points and Ashley Rivera added 10 for North Mesquite.
If the Stallions are going to make a late-season run, they are running out of time. North Mesquite needs wins now, starting with Friday's game against Tyler Lee, the team directly ahead of them in the 12-5A standings.
In addition to Friday's showdown, Mesquite will play at Rockwall-Heath on Tuesday while Horn will host Longview.
FRIDAY
As the first half of the 11-5A season came to a close on Friday, there was nothing Mesquite could do to protect its district lead.
The idle Skeeters could only watch as Horn and Rockwall each won their respective games to forge a three-way tie atop the standings.
Horn put together one of its most dominant defensive performances of the season on Friday with a 61-15 blowout win over North Mesquite.
The Jaguars opened the game on a 20-2 run and that set the tone for the entire night for the Stallions, who were unable to score more than seven points in any quarter.
Horn pushed the lead to 37-6 at halftime, getting 16 points from Kristina Smith, 14 from Lauren Bradshaw and nine by Jada Underwood.
Makqhuisha Carruth scored six points and Tyree Brown added four for the Stallions.
STANDINGS
Horn 6-1 18-6
Mesquite 6-1 17-10
Rockwall 5-2 19-8
Longview 3-4 15-10
Tyler Lee 2-4 12-15
North Mesquite 1-6 6-18
Rockwall-Heath 1-6 8-14
Tuesday's Results
Horn 41, Rockwall 31
Mesquite 63, Longview 33
Rockwall-Heath 67, North Mesquite 43
Tyler Lee, bye
Friday's Results
Horn 61, North Mesquite 15
Rockwall 68, Longview 53
Tyler Lee 51, Rockwall-Heath 30
Mesquite, bye
Friday's Games
Horn at Mesquite
Tyler Lee at North Mesquite
Rockwall-Heath at Rockwall
Longview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall-Heath
Longview at Horn
Rockwall at Tyler Lee
North Mesquite, bye
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