Sports > Schools
11-5A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Naaman Forest stuns Rowlett for first loss
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
As Rowlett appeared to be headed toward a celebration of its district championship on Friday, a strange thing happened.
After taking over the game in the third quarter, Rowlett could not stop Naaman Forest from doing the same in the fourth as they rallied for a 53-48 victory.
Not only do the Eagles suffer their first 11-5A loss to fall to 9-1, but the Rangers are suddenly on their heels at 8-2. In fact, they are not the only ones, as Lakeview also crept up on the leaders as it moved to 8-3 with a win over North Garland.
Rowlett, which had its 14-game overall winning streak snapped, has been in tough games throughout that run. So there was no panic when Naaman Forest opened a 30-26 halftime lead.
The Eagles responded as they have done so often, using a 16-6 run in the third to take a 42-36 lead.
But Rowlett went cold during the final minutes and the Rangers took advantage, reeling off a 17-6 spurt of their own to pick up the huge win.
Harlie Greer had 12 points and Dominiqe Oliver and Taylor Dupuy each added seven to lead the Eagles.
Naaman Forest got big games from Kaitlyn Holly and Micayla Buckner, who scored 21 and 16 points, respectively.
Rowlett should have a good chance to bounce back and will clinch at least a share of the 11-5A title when they play winless North Garland on Friday. They close the season with a potentially huge game at home against Lakeview on Tuesday.
The Rangers not only kept their district title hopes alive, but they also opened some cushion over fourth-place Sachse, who was idle on Tuesday. The Mustangs were hoping that a season-ending meeting with Naaman Forest might allow them to move up in the standings but that looks unlikely at this point.
FRIDAY
Rowlett had moved to within one victory of a share of the district title on Friday with a dominating blowout of South Garland, while Sachse punched its postseason ticket with a rout of Garland.
The Eagles were nearly unstoppable in the first half. They started the game with a 20-8 run and then scored 30 points in the second period to open a 50-25 halftime lead.
Oliver scored 18 points to lead a quartet of Eagles in double figures. Dupuy had 14 points, Taylee Alexander scored 11 and Courtney Fine chipped in with 10.
The Mustangs could have jeopardized their fourth-place standing with a loss on Friday but they were never in serious trouble in a 67-25 win over Garland.
Sachse led by four after one quarter and then blew the game open with a 23-2 run in the second period. The Mustangs kept the pressure on, closing the game on a 19-6 spurt to put it away.
Nekiya Jackson had 14 points, Leah Crouse tallied 11 and Monica Dorsey and Moriah Reed each added 10 for Sachse, who moved to 6-4 in 11-5A.
STANDINGS
x-Rowlett 9-1 20-8
x-Naaman Forest 8-2 16-14
x-Lakeview 8-3 16-14
x-Sachse 6-4 14-13
Garland 3-7 5-22
South Garland 2-9 7-21
North Garland 0-10 2-16
x-clinched playoff berth
Tuesday's Results
Naaman Forest 53, Rowlett 48
Lakeview 55, North Garland 13
Garland 78, South Garland 52
Sachse, bye
Friday's Results
Rowlett 81, South Garland 55
Sachse 67, Garland 25
Naaman Forest 49, Lakeview 48
North Garland, bye
Friday's Games
Rowlett at North Garland
Sachse at South Garland
Garland at Naaman Forest
Lakeview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Lakeview at Rowlett
Naaman Forest at Sachse
North Garland at Garland
South Garland, bye
After taking over the game in the third quarter, Rowlett could not stop Naaman Forest from doing the same in the fourth as they rallied for a 53-48 victory.
Not only do the Eagles suffer their first 11-5A loss to fall to 9-1, but the Rangers are suddenly on their heels at 8-2. In fact, they are not the only ones, as Lakeview also crept up on the leaders as it moved to 8-3 with a win over North Garland.
Rowlett, which had its 14-game overall winning streak snapped, has been in tough games throughout that run. So there was no panic when Naaman Forest opened a 30-26 halftime lead.
The Eagles responded as they have done so often, using a 16-6 run in the third to take a 42-36 lead.
But Rowlett went cold during the final minutes and the Rangers took advantage, reeling off a 17-6 spurt of their own to pick up the huge win.
Harlie Greer had 12 points and Dominiqe Oliver and Taylor Dupuy each added seven to lead the Eagles.
Naaman Forest got big games from Kaitlyn Holly and Micayla Buckner, who scored 21 and 16 points, respectively.
Rowlett should have a good chance to bounce back and will clinch at least a share of the 11-5A title when they play winless North Garland on Friday. They close the season with a potentially huge game at home against Lakeview on Tuesday.
The Rangers not only kept their district title hopes alive, but they also opened some cushion over fourth-place Sachse, who was idle on Tuesday. The Mustangs were hoping that a season-ending meeting with Naaman Forest might allow them to move up in the standings but that looks unlikely at this point.
FRIDAY
Rowlett had moved to within one victory of a share of the district title on Friday with a dominating blowout of South Garland, while Sachse punched its postseason ticket with a rout of Garland.
The Eagles were nearly unstoppable in the first half. They started the game with a 20-8 run and then scored 30 points in the second period to open a 50-25 halftime lead.
Oliver scored 18 points to lead a quartet of Eagles in double figures. Dupuy had 14 points, Taylee Alexander scored 11 and Courtney Fine chipped in with 10.
The Mustangs could have jeopardized their fourth-place standing with a loss on Friday but they were never in serious trouble in a 67-25 win over Garland.
Sachse led by four after one quarter and then blew the game open with a 23-2 run in the second period. The Mustangs kept the pressure on, closing the game on a 19-6 spurt to put it away.
Nekiya Jackson had 14 points, Leah Crouse tallied 11 and Monica Dorsey and Moriah Reed each added 10 for Sachse, who moved to 6-4 in 11-5A.
STANDINGS
x-Rowlett 9-1 20-8
x-Naaman Forest 8-2 16-14
x-Lakeview 8-3 16-14
x-Sachse 6-4 14-13
Garland 3-7 5-22
South Garland 2-9 7-21
North Garland 0-10 2-16
x-clinched playoff berth
Tuesday's Results
Naaman Forest 53, Rowlett 48
Lakeview 55, North Garland 13
Garland 78, South Garland 52
Sachse, bye
Friday's Results
Rowlett 81, South Garland 55
Sachse 67, Garland 25
Naaman Forest 49, Lakeview 48
North Garland, bye
Friday's Games
Rowlett at North Garland
Sachse at South Garland
Garland at Naaman Forest
Lakeview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Lakeview at Rowlett
Naaman Forest at Sachse
North Garland at Garland
South Garland, bye
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