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Lady Rockets Pull Away, On to Regionals

By Antonio G. Castillo, 02/21/21, 10:15AM CST

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Judson uses dominating 3Q to separate & Sanderlin leads the way...

Buda, TX-

The Area playoff match-up between Lake Travis HS and Judson HS, was a heated one as both teams headed to the half, only separated by a bucket, with the Rockets holding the slim edge 25-23.

When the third quarter started, Judson went immediately to work. Michaela Verrett would sink a trey from the right wing, and on the next possession, Kierra Sanderlin (Rutgers Signee) would follow up almost from the same spot with another three-pointer. The run would continue and in the blink of an eye, it was a twelve-point contest, 37-25. Judson blitzed out of the halftime gates on a 12-2 run and the Lady Cavs never recovered, eventually falling, 66-48.

Verrett would connect on her second trey later in the third quarter, giving Judson a 40-28 lead, and they would enjoy a 44-28 advantage heading into the fourth. Judson used a stifling defense, combined with their fast-paced offense to outscore Lake Travis, 19-5 in the third period. Verrett would finish with 13pts for the game, and was one of three Lady Rockets who hit double-figures.

Lake Travis would not go away so easily, cutting the lead to ten points early in the fourth quarter on a 6-0 spurt, as Aspen Hix would score down low in the paint, making it, 44-34. That would be as close as the Lady Cavs would get the remainder of the game. As they did the entire second half, Judson would respond. Verrett would put in two free throws, followed by a weaving drive to the right side of the rim by Sanderlin, and the Rockets were on their way with just over 3 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Rutgers signee had a game high 25 points, and like most of the times, she had her way in attacking, slashing, and getting into the lane and finishing at the hoop. All but one of her field goals was a three-pointer. She added 8 rebounds in the win as well. Teammate and “Co-Player of the Game” Amira Mabry was on her usual game controlling the paint and glass. She finished with another double-double, 15 points and 15 rebounds. The Lady Cavs did not have a physical presence down low to offset her size and strength.

The first half was back and forth as both teams dished and took each other’s punches. The largest lead by either team was seven points. The Lady Cavs jumped out to a 6-0 lead on back to back treys by Mia Galbreath, but Judson would respond with a 12-0 run, on an “And 1” from junior post Amira Mabry, and surge in front 12-6.

After a fancy Zaadiyah Stovall eruo step for the lay-up, Judson would add another bucket to make it a seven point game, 22-15. The Lady Cavs would answer right back as Kate Gordon would connect with her third trey of the first half. She would connect on 5 treys for the contest and finish with a team high 19 points.

The pace was back and forth, and Stovall would draw the foul on a bucket in close, and sink the free throw to give the Lady Rockets a 25-20 lead. Mia Galbraith would respond immediately for Lake Travis, in transition would go down the right side of lane, take a hip check and bank in her layup for the “And 1!” Her free throw would make it the halftime score, 25-23. Galbraith added 18 points in the loss. There was no other Lady Cav over double-digits, and the absence of Raeven Boswell because of injury, loomed huge as her offensive punch and shot making ability would’ve been a factor.

Moving forward, the Rockets will await Monday’s winner between Clark HS and Cedar Ridge HS as they begin the Regional round of play. Judson will go into the Regional Quarterfinals with an overall mark of 23-1 and at least two extra days of rest. The Lady Rockets are looking as if they’re mission is hell bent on getting back to the Alamodome for the fifth straight year, and they're playing every bit of the part.