A long season that spanned summer workouts, non-district tournaments and rigorous league games just ended. Emotions bubbled to the surface.
But as the Chaparral Lady Bobcats made their way off the court Friday night and some fought back tears, put warm-up shirts over their heads or buried their faces in their jerseys, shouts from parents and fans echoed inside Katy ISD’s Merrell Center.
“Keep your heads up,” bellowed the supporters.
It’s solid advice.
Despite Chaparral’s 47-40 loss to Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill in the Class 5A Region III semifinals Friday night –– two
wins shy of reaching the state tournament –– the Lady Bobcats can take solace and plenty of pride in the season that the second-year program produced.
Chaparral became the first Killeen ISD girls basketball team to reach the fourth round since the 2015-16 Killeen High Lady Kangaroos. Along the way, the Lady Bobcats won 28 games. the school’s first team district title, going 13-1 in 22-5A, and the first three playoff games in CHS history.
That’s a lot to see with heads held high.
“I’m just so proud of them. It’s hard to have the vision and the discipline to get here, where they ended up,” Chaparral head coach Kiara Marshall said. “Right now, it’s hard for them. It’s stinging. That locker room is really, really tough right now. But, I hope when everything settles and clears that they are proud of themselves, because I am proud of them.”
Jerriyah Baines led the Lady Bobcats with 14 points. Chazlyn Dettor added 11, Ivy Powell chipped in six, and Tori Hines, Julissa Weeks and Trinity Brown had three apiece.
Cynthia Le Compte had 11 points to lead the Lady Eagles (31-7), who advanced to play Richmond Randle (28-8) in the 5A-III final for the right to go to the state tournament next week in Alamodome.
For much of Friday night’s back-and-forth, physical and defensive battle, the Lady Bobcats appeared headed to the Saturday’s final.
But for every burst, Barbers Hill had an answer.
Chaparral led by as much as five twice in the opening quarter yet trailed 15-14 heading to the second. The Lady Bobcats were up 25-21 in the second period, though, the Lady Eagles scored the quarter’s final four points for a 25-all deadlock at halftime.
Chaparral opened the third with a 10-2 run for its largest lead, 35-27, but the advantage was down to just 38-35 entering the fourth, when the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Bobcats 12-2.
“Barbers Hill has been here before and we were able to lead a majority of that game. But, I think our inexperience in that moment just kind of got us. Big arena, big stage is something new for us. We just weren’t able to handle it the way we normally do. But, it’s OK.
“It’s things that we have to learn and grow through. We’ll get back to work and be better for it next year.”
Chins up. There certainly is plenty to look forward to in 2024-25.
