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Varsity Girls Basketball Beats Jersey Village, Cy Fair Decidedly

By Kevin Epps, 01/27/25, 5:17PM CST

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vs. Jersey Village

Thursday, January 23rd, saw Jersey Village visit after snowmaggedon forced a reschedule of the game. At times this season the Spartans have followed an almost formulaic approach. Start slow on offense in the first quarter. Defense keeps them in the game. Often, they have a hot second quarter, or a hot third quarter, or both. A bit of cooling in the fourth. This game versus the Falcons fit the mold. The Spartans scored just 17 points in the first half, but held the opposition to 15.

Stratford came out cooking in the third quarter. Sophomore guard Tess Stephenson took the ball from the wing down to the right block, positioning to score. Senior point guard Rachel Ashby and Freshman guard Ava Gibson converged on the ball from the press. Gibson came away with the steal, a drive to the basket, a bucket, and a free throw to complete the three-point play. AshbyGibson, and Sophomore guard Riley O'Connor used the press dominantly, to the point where a Falcons player nearly shot at her own basket in her confusion. Back on offense, Gibson rebounded her own shot, was fouled, made the first, and missed the second free throw. Sophomore forward Sophia Prejean rebounded and found Gibson behind the arc, where she dropped in a trey, and it was 27-18. Stephenson followed with another three off the assist from AshbyStephenson scored again after driving outside-inside for a layup. The game briefly became a track meet, where there was a lot of racing back and forth, but no scoring. Prejean blocked a Falcons' shot as the clock dwindled and the quarter ended 32-20.

Defense and turnovers dominated the rest of the game. With 2:58 remaining, Ashby darted between two defenders and shot as she was falling, completing the field goal. The Falcons could generate few points. The Spartans burned the clock. Junior Rylah Barnes knocked in a 15-footer as the time ran down. The Spartans won, 39-24.

Gibson, a freshman who has been improving throughout the season, led with 11 points, six rebounds and six steals. Stephenson dropped in 10 points plus six rebounds. Ashby had eight points and six steals. Senior forward Kendall Davis had six points. Prejean had seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Camille Warren had five rebounds.

 

vs. Cy Fair

Friday, January 24th was Cy Fair's turn to visit Stratford. The Spartans threw out the formula and started scoring, which was fortunate, because the Bobcats employed a 1960s-era set-shot behind the arc and watched it swish or bank in early and often. Gibson started her first game in District play. She came out driving into the teeth of the defense before dishing to Davis, who made a solid move and put the biscuit in the basket. On the next series, Davis snared an offensive rebound and passed out to Stephenson, who whipped the rock to Ashby for a three-pointer. Davis followed with another offensive rebound and outlet to Ashby, who drove around the entirety of the defense for a layup. The Bobcats dropped in their set-shots, and Spartans' Head Coach Audrisa Harrison called timeout at the 3:39 mark, down 7-15. Whatever was said, Ashby followed by forcing a turnover that turned into a Stephenson three-pointer. Next was O'Connor to Ashby to Stephenson in the right corner for another triple. O'Connor saved the ball from going out under her offensive basket by getting it into Prejean's hands, and she promptly laid in a six-footer. Ashby stole again and turned it into a score to take the Spartans' first lead. The first quarter ended 17-16, Spartans.

Stratford came out pressing in the second quarter and it wasn't pleasant for the Falcons. StephensonO'Connor. and Ashby were disrupting passes and dribbles on every series. When Stephenson scored after a steal, the score was 24-16. Senior guard Aria Taylor drove and pulled up for a nine-footer. Ashby forced a steal, and hit Taylor, who found Stephenson for a trey. The Spartans then committed a few too many turnovers and miscues, and the Falcons scored a couple of buckets. Stephenson's steal and jumper with her left hand made it 33-25. Senior guard Layla Lloyd dropped in two free throws with 10 seconds remaining, and it was 35-25 at the half.

Gibson spied Stephenson down the court on the fast-break, and that turned into two points. Ashby was relentless in pressuring the ball. She turned a steal into an underhand shuttle-pass to Gibson for a layup, and it was 41-27. Stephenson in-bounded a pass to Lloyd, who sent it right back to Stephenson for a three that felt significant. Then the game got sloppy. Finally, Senior forward Bella Perroni scored down low off a beautiful bounce pass through the defense by AshbyO'Connor blocked a shot to end the quarter, and it was 46-33.

Stephenson ripped a defensive rebound off the glass like she was ready for SEC play and bolted down the court. A Falcons player inadvertently tripped Stephenson, who went down like a stop-drop-and-roll exhibition, before bounding up unharmed. It didn't result in any points, but it was breathtaking nonetheless. Davis rebounded her own shot and scored. Stephenson to Taylor to Davis on the fast-break put two more points on the board. Stephenson continued distributing the ball with a long outlet to Warren, who scored on the fast-break. The Bobcats kept shooting, going 7-for-13 from three-point land for the game, and the final was 54-42.

Stephenson scored 22 points, plus five rebounds and six steals. Ashby had 11 points and eight steals. Davis had six points and seven rebounds.

 

The Spartans are 17-9, 9-2 in District. They are 15-2 since Ashby and Stephenson completed the roster after volleyball season ended. Three regular season games remain. They appear to have clinched a berth in the postseason and are now playing for the best seed possible.