CINCO RANCH LADY COUGARS BASKETBALL

Lady Cougar Basketball: Reaching New Heights

The recent winning traditions of the Lady Cougar basketball program are well-known to the followers of Houston area and Texas scholastic basketball; four straight District Championships; three straight trips to the Region III Quarterfinals in ’04-’05, ’05-’06, and ’06-’07; advancing to the Region 3-5A Final in ’07-‘08; currently own a 52 game District winning streak spanning four years; averaging 30 wins per season over the last three years; ranked as high as 2nd in the state of Texas and 9th in the South Region by USA Today; and finishing the ’07-’08 campaign ranked 44^th in the nation by Rivals.com.

On top of that, the Lady Cougars compete annually against some of the strongest programs in the state of Texas and Houston area. Despite the rugged schedule, Coach Eric Bartlett’s teams have compiled a 114-29 record (.797) over the last four years. The Lady Cougars have captured Bi-District and Area playoff championships each year in that span and advanced to within one game of the state tournament in Austin last year, falling to eventual state champion Cy-Fair in the Regional Final. The Lady Cougars have taken on all comers during Bartlett’s tenure, which has prepped the Maroon & White to be battle tested during district play and the state playoffs over the years. A&M Consolidated, Aldine Nimitz, Angleton, Bellaire, Bryan, Corpus Christi Carroll, Cy-Fair, Dickinson, Dulles, Fort Bend Marshall, Houston Madison, Houston Westside, Humble, North Shore, Pasadena Dobie, Rockwall, Spring, and Spring Westfield are just a sample of Houston area and state powers the Lady Cougars have tangled with throughout the years.

Last year’s ‘07-‘08 season saw the Maroon and White compile a glistening 30-8 record while garnering their fourth straight District title. The Lady Cougars then faced arguably the toughest path in the 5A State Tournament field, as their first three opponents sported a robust 88-16 record. Cinco took down Cy-Springs in the Bi-District round before taking on Aldine Nimitz and their All-American post, Brittny Griner. A 50-42 victory paved the way for a rematch with 36-1 Bellaire and their lofty #4 ranking in USA Today’s Super 25 poll. Cinco shocked the state and the nation by avenging a 44 point loss to the Lady Cardinals in the season opener. The Lady Cougars 50-48 victory catapulted them into the Region 3 Semifinals, where Fort Bend Marshall was the next victim in a 63-50 triumph. Cinco’s dream season came to an end in the Region 3 Final, a 49-41 loss to nationally ranked Cy-Fair. The Lady Cougars vaulted to 5^th in the final TABC State Rankings while checking in at number 44 nationally in Rivals.com Fab 50 rankings.

Senior All-American Briana Gilbreath (SR) was tabbed in the preseason by the Houston Chronicle on their All-Greater Houston Team. This was just the beginning of the accolades the Lady Cougars would receive by the end of the year. In the classroom Kelsey Clinch (SR), Hannah Harris (SR), and Ezzie Sparkman (SR) were selected to the prestigious TGCA Academic All-State Team while Clinch, Carly Dittert (SR), Gilbreath, Harris, Sparkman, and Jessica Weiss (SR) were named to the Academic All-District Team. On the hardwood, 1st Team All-District honors went to Clinch, Gilbreath, and Shantel Nwanguma (SR). 2nd Team All-District selections included Demi Clinch (SO), Brandy Ditttert (JR), and Kellie Ros (SO). Due to the team’s success in district competition Head Coach Eric Bartlett received the District 18 Coach of the Year Award for the fourth straight year. Bartlett was also a finalist for the Dean Weese Outstanding Coaches Award and chosen to be the head coach for the South All-Stars at the annual TGCA All-Star Game in Dallas.

The post-season awards did not end there though. Kelsey Clinch and Shantel Nwanguma were both selected to play in the Houston Area Girls Basketball Coaches All-Star Game as two of the top 24 players in the Houston area. Clinch and Gilbreath were both selected TABC All-Region, with Briana being tabbed to the All-State Team for TABC and TGCA. Gilbreath was also selected to the prestigious Parade All-American Team and the EA Sports All-American team, while also being tabbed to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association) All-American Game.

Two Lady Cougars signed letters of intent to play at Division 1 universities. Briana Gilbreath signed with the University of Southern California, where she will join sister Stefanie for the next four years. Shantel Nwanguma inked with the University of Texas at San Antonio.

The cupboard is not bare for the ‘08-‘09 season. Six players return that saw significant playing time from last year. Ayla Adams (SR), Demi Clinch (JR), Brandy Dittert (SR), Carly Dittert (SR), DeDe Nwanguma (JR), and Kellie Ros (JR) all were integral parts of last season’s success. These returning players, along with a host of others from the sub-varsity teams that compiled a 61-5 (.924) record lay a very strong foundation to build on for the ‘08-‘09 campaign. All three sub-varsity teams captured District crowns for the second straight season, leaving the future bright for the Lady Cougar basketball program for this year and beyond.

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Bartlett to coach South Team for TGCA All-Star Game
Cinco Ranch head coach Eric Bartlett will coach the South Team of 4A/5A All-Stars on July 10th at Grand Prairie High School in Dallas for the annual TGCA All-Star Game. Bartlett's squad is highlighted by local products Mansa El (Cy-Fair), Adaora Elonu (Elsik), and Britni Martin (Conroe) among others. Bartlett will be assisted by Tina Camacho from San Antonio Wagner. The North squad will be coached by Plainview's Danny Wrenn and Candi Harvey from Mansfield Timberview. The North squad is highlighted by DeSoto's Sydney Carter.
TGCA All-Star Game Rosters
South defeats North, 72-67

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Bartlett named finalist for Dean Weese Coaches Award
Cinco Ranch head coach Eric Bartlett was named one of four finalists for the Dean Weese Outstanding Coaches Award in 2008. Other finalists were Niki Gilley of Southlake Carroll and Kenneth Bickham of Tyler John Tyler. The winner was Tracey Hastings of San Antonio Madison.

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Nwanguma to continue career at UTSA
Senior post set to sign letter of intent for Divison 1 Roadrunners
Cinco Ranch senior Shantel Nwanguma has accepted a full scholarship to the University of Texas at San Antonio to continue her academic and athletic careers. UTSA is coming off the school's first ever appearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, where they were defeated by second seeded Texas A&M in the first round this past year. Nwanguma earned 1st Team All-District honors this year after recieving 2nd team honors as a junior. The senior post averaged 7.3 ppg, which was tied for third on the team, while also pulling down 5.0 rpg, good for 2nd on the squad.
UTSA Womens Basketball
UTSA Official Release

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Gilbreath garners more national honors
1st Team EA Sports All-American; 3rd Team Parade All-American
EA Sports All-American Team
Parade All-American Team

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Clinch, Nwanguma shine in GHGBCA All-Star Games
Seniors cap high school career as 2nd leading scorers for winning squads
Athlete's Connection Game Recap
Katy Sun Preview

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Gilbreath, West defeat East 80-64
USC signee nets 8 points in McDonald's All-American Game
ESPN Recap
ESPN Slideshow
USA Today Recap
Game Box Score
Sports Illustrated Article
Houston Chronicle Article
Athlete's Connection Article
McDonald’s All-American Team Rosters
Past Alumni of McDonald’s All-American Game
Gilbreath McDonald’s Photo
Official McDonald’s All-American Website

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Lady Cougars finally earn respect of pollsters
Cinco winds up 5th in TABC poll; 44th nationally in Rivals.com rankings
Final TABC State Rankings
Final MaxPreps State Rankings
Final Rivals Fab 50 Rankings

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Cinco well represented on All-Houston Team
Gilbreath, Clinch, Nwanguma collect honors from “Chevy Prep Ticket”
Chevy Prep Ticket All-Houston Girls Team 2007-2008
Region 3 Finals vs. Cy-Fair (Slideshow)
Region 3 Semifinals vs. FB Marshall (Slideshow)
Region 3 Quarterfinals vs. Bellaire (Slideshow)

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Gilbreath named TABC All-State, Bartlett to coach TGCA All-Stars

Briana Gilbreath added TABC All-State honors to her growing list of post-season awards. She was also selected to play in the TGCA All-Star Game this summer, but obligations to USC will not make her available for the game. Eric Bartlett was selected to be one of the head coaches in the annual game held during the TGCA Coaches Clinic.
TABC All-State
TGCA All-State

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Gilbreath, Clinch continue to collect hardware
TGCA and TABC accolades for senior standouts

Briana Gilbreath and Kelsey Clinch continued to earn post-season honors by being named to the TABC All-Region team. Gilbreath also was named to the TGCA All-State team. For a complete listing of players on both lists, click on the links below..
TABC All-Region
TGCA All-State

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18-5A All-District dominated by Lady Cougars
Clinch, Gilbreath, Nwanguma nab 1st team honors
District 18-5A All-District Selections
Katy Times Article

Cinco Ranch seniors Kelsey Clinch, Briana Gilbreath, and Shantel Nwanguma were selected 1st team All-District, while sophomore Demi Clinch , junior Brandy Dittert, and sophomore Kellie Ros earned 2nd team honors in voting by District coaches. Cinco’s six selections led the district, while Elsik and Hastings each had three named to the elite team. Head Coach Eric Bartlett was tabbed as the District Coach of the Year for the 4th straight year.

1st Team Selections
Briana Gilbreath was a four-year starter for the Lady Cougars and finished her career with a record of 114-29. She was part of four District championship teams, three Regional Quarterfinalists, and this past season’s Regional Finalist. The McDonald’s All-American and USC signee finished her senior campaign leading the team in every major statistical category: 14.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.7 apg, 4.0 spg, and 1.8 bpg. Gilbreath scored more than 20 points eight times throughout the year and was arguably the most versatile player in the state of Texas. She was selected 1st team All-District all four years. Gilbreath was also Academic All-District each of her four years for the Lady Cougars. In addition to her McDonald’s All-American nomination, she was also named to the WCBA All-American Team as an Honorable Mention selection. Gilbreath will play on March 26th in Milwaukee, WI at the Bradley Center in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Kelsey Clinch, who transferred back to Cinco Ranch after spending her junior year at Class 3A Liberty Hill, where she earned District MVP honors as a junior, was another integral part of Cinco’s success this past year. The senior was second on the team, averaging 10.5 ppg and connected on 50 three-pointers during the season, including five against Westside. She hit at least 2 three-pointers in 15 of the L ady Cougars 38 games. Clinch had some of her best games in Cinco’s deep playoff run, as she scored in double figures in each of the Lady Cougars five playoff games. Clinch hit at least 2 three-pointers in 4 of the 5 playoff games, including 3 against Cy-Springs. She also earned TGCA Academic All-State honors and Academic All-District Honors. Clinch will play on March 29th in the Greater Houston Basketball Coaches All-Star Game

Shantel Nwanguma, a two-year starter, was named 1st team this year after grabbing 2nd team honors as a junior. The senior post averaged 7.3 ppg, which was tied for third on the team, while also pulling down 5.0 rpg, good for 2nd on the squad. She scored 18 points and pulled down 7 rebounds in a win 50-38 win over Hastings in December. After a knee injury sidelined her for the last three district games, Nwanguma returned in the Area Round of the playoffs and was integral in shutting down Nimitz’s 6’8” All-American, Brittney Griner in Cinco’s 50-42 victory. Nwanguma will play March 29th in Greater Houston Basketball Coaches All-Star Game.

2nd Team Selections
Demi Clinch, in a statistical oddity, hit multiple three-pointers 15 times throughout the year and finished with 50 three-pointers on the season while shooting 31% from behind the arc…the exact same numbers as sister Kelsey. The sophomore was tied for third on the team with 7.3 ppg. Her highest point output of the campaign was at home against Katy, where she tallied 18.

Brandy Dittert, in her second varsity season, averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.6 rpg. The junior shot 42% from three-point land to lead the team in that category. She tallied 16 points against Morton Ranch and netted 13 points against Hastings in two of her biggest scoring outputs of the season.

Kellie Ros, in her second season as a starter, was the catalyst to the Lady Cougar attack as its point guard. She was also second on the team with 2.4 spg, and connected on 31 three-pointers during the season. The sophomore scored 11 points against North Crowley and Kempner, while also hitting double figures with 10 points against Nimitz in the team’s first meeting this year.

Other Post-Season Accolades for Cinco Ranch:

TGCA Academic All-State
Hannah Harris
Ezzie Sparkman

Academic All-District
Carly Dittert
Hannah Harris
Ezzie Sparkman
Jessica Weiss

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Time runs out on Cougar rally, season
Furious 4th quarter rally not enough to overcome Bobcats
Cinco Ranch’s run through the Class 5A state playoffs came to an end on Saturday evening at the hands of number one ranked Cy-Fair, 49-41. Nneka Ogwumike scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the Bobcats, while Chiney Ogwumike added 10 points. Cinco was led by Briana Gilbreath and Kelsey Clinch, who each scored 11 points. Gilbreath also had 9 rebounds and 8 steals, while Clinch scored her 11 points on 5-9 shooting. Brandy Dittert’s 8 first quarter points helped stake Cinco to an early 14-13 lead, but Cy-Fair outscored the Cougars 15-6 in the 2nd quarter to take a 28-20 lead. The Bobcats lead increased to 15 points, 47-32 by the middle of the fourth quarter, before Cinco went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a Clinch three-pointer and another one by Demi Clinch to cut the Cy-Fair lead to 47-41 with just under two minutes to play. That was as close as Cinco would get however, as Cy-Fair advances to the State Tournament for the second straight year. Cinco Ranch concludes the year with a record of 30-8 and the deepest playoff run in school history. Saturday marked the final game for seniors Kelsey Clinch, Briana Gilbreath, Hannah Harris, Shantel Nwanguma, Ezzie Sparkman, and Jessica Weiss. Cy-Fair (37-2) moves on to play Converse Wagner (36-1) in one semifinal, while DeSoto (38-1) takes on Naaman Forest (30-6) in the other matchup Friday. The winners will play on Saturday night at 8:30 for the state title.
Game Stats
Class 5A State Playoff Bracket
Katy Times Recap
Houston Chronicle Recap
Athlete's Connection Game Recap
Video Highlights (Athlete's Connection)
Video Highlights (High School Gametime)
Region 3 Tournament Slideshow

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Cinco finally breaks FB Marshall, 63-50
Gilbreath scores 27, Clinch adds 16 to propel Cougars to Region Final
Cinco Ranch used a strong fourth quarter to put away Fort Bend Marshall, 63-50 on Friday night at the Campbell Center in Aldine. The Lady Cougars broke open a tight contest by outscoring the Buffalos 19-9 in the final quarter to move one step away from Austin and a trip to the State Tournament. Briana Gilbreath scored 17 of her season high 27 in the first half, staking Cinco to a 31-30 lead at the break. Marshall hit five three-pointers in the first half, two each by Chelsea Cunningham and Dietra Caldwell. Gilbreath also pulled down 10 rebounds and had 5 steals in her first game since being selected for the McDonald’s All-American Team. Clinch had 6 points in the third quarter, and Kellie Ros hit a three-pointer to keep the Cougars in the lead heading into the final stanza. Cinco was 10-14 from the free throw line to ice the win. The Lady Cougars will take on Cy-Fair for the fourth time this year Saturday at 4:00 at the Campbell Center. Cy-Fair defeated Dulles in the first game of the doubleheader, 66-60.
Game Stats
Class 5A State Playoff Bracket
ESPN Recap
Houston Chronicle Recap
Athlete's Connection Game Recap
Video Highlights (Athlete's Connection)
Video Highlights (High School Gametime)
Video Highlights (High School Sports Live)
Video Highlights (MaxPreps)

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Road to Regionals
Lady Cougars have faced state’s toughest path

MURDERER’S ROW
The top 5 toughest roads of teams still alive (by opponent’s win %)

1.Cinco Ranch (88-16 .846)-- Cy Springs (25-8) Nimitz (27-7) Bellaire (36-1)
2.Summit (77-18 .811)—Midland Lee (21-11) EP Americas (28-1) Lubb. Coronado (28-6)
3.Timberview (81-21 .794)—San Ang. Central (20-11) EP Eastwood (30-5) Amarillo (31-5)
4.Duncanville (79-21 .790)—Irving (22-9) Southlake Carroll (28-6) Euless Trinity (29-6)
5.Cy-Fair (79-23 .775)—Alief Taylor (19-13) Houston Madison (32-3) Elsik (28-7)

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DOWN GOES BELLAIRE
Cinco avenges 44 point loss, stuns nationally ranked Cardinals
Bellaire had all the glitz and glamour going into Tuesday night’s Region 3 Quarterfinal matchup against Cinco Ranch. A record of 36-1, a 44 point drubbing of the Cougars in November, ranked 4th in the nation by USA Today, four players who had already signed with Division I schools, and a top five ranking in the state of Texas in most polls. But none of that mattered to the Lady Cougars as they defeated Bellaire 50-48 to move on to the Regional Tournament for the first time in their eight year history. Cinco was not fazed by the Bellaire full court man to man defense as they were in the first meeting, and controlled the first quarter, taking a 18-13 lead over the Cardinals. The Lady Cougars were on fire in the opening period, hitting 9 of 14 shots, all coming from inside the three-point line. Kelsey Clinch, who scored 15 points on the night to go along with 3 steals, was 3-4 from the field, Briana Gilbreath 2-3, and DeDe Nwanguma 2-2 in staking the Cougars to the early lead. Nwanguma finished the night 7-10 from the field, good for 14 points. The Cinco lead ballooned to 27-15 midway through the 2nd period as Nwanguma hit two more shots, Clinch nailed a three, and Gilbreath scored three layups to give the Lady Cougars their biggest cushion of the evening. Gilbreath finished the night with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Bellaire would respond in the final two minutes of the quarter as Courtney Dunham hit two threes and Jasmine Hartman one of her own to cut the Cinco lead to 33-28 at the break. Bellaire then scored the first five points of the 3rd period to completely erase the 12 point deficit. Cinco did not fold, however, and the game was nip and tuck the rest of the way. The Lady Cougars were just 2-17 from the field in the 3rd quarter, but their defense and rebounding prevented Bellaire from taking control. The Lady Cougars trailed 39-38 late in the 3rd period, but started the 4th quarter on a 6-2 run and never trailed again. Cinco shot 5-11 in the final quarter to hold off the Cardinals. Clinch hit 1 of 2 free throws with roughly 20 seconds left to give Cinco a 49-48 lead, and after a defensive stop, Gilbreath knocked down 1 of 2 free throws to push the Cinco lead to 50-48 with 5.6 seconds left. Bellaire’s Jasmine Hartman then drove down the lane but her floater was blocked by Shantel Nwanguma as time expired, sending off a wild celebration and sending the Cougars to Friday’s Region Semifinals against Fort Bend Marshall. Cinco defeated Marshall 49-41 in December in a non-district game at CRHS. The winner will take on the Cy-Fair-Dulles winner Saturday afternoon with a trip to Austin at stake.
Game Stats
Class 5A State Playoff Bracket
Katy Times Game Recap
Houston Chronicle Game Recap
Athlete’s Connection Game Recap
Game Photos (Athlete's Connection)

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Lady Cougars stifle Griner, Nimitz in 50-42 victory
Seniors Gilbreath, Clinch, Nwanguma lead Cinco into Regional Quarters
Cinco Ranch used patience on offense, stout defense, and clutch shooting in the late going to ward off Aldine Nimitz, 50-42 Friday night at Cy Ridge HS. The Lady Cougars had a tall task in stopping 6’8” Brittney Griner, but the trio of Shantel Nwanguma, DeDe Nwanguma, and Ayla Adams did a marvelous job in keeping Griner well below her season averages. The Baylor signee was limited to 13 points and 8 rebounds on the night, and was constantly kept away from the basket by the aforementioned trio of Cougars. Cinco was cold in the early going and trailed 9-6 after one period. Kelsey Clinch hit two three pointers in the 2nd quarter to help spark a 9-0 run and the Cougars went into halftime up 21-14. Cinco stretched their lead to as many as 10 in the third quarter before Nimitz cut the lead to just five, 34-29. Demi Clinch then hit a three pointer at the buzzer to stretch the Cinco lead to eight going into the final quarter. Cinco extended their lead to 41-29 midway through the 4th quarter, and Nimitz scored eight straight points to cut the Cougar lead to 41-37. Brandy Dittert hit a short jumper to push the lead to six, and Nimitz would never get closer as Cinco hit their free throws down the stretch to finish off the victory. Gilbreath again filled the stat sheet for the Cougars, finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. Kelsey Clinch led the Cougars in scoring by netting 16 points on 6-10 shooting and also had 3 steals. Shantel Nwanguma, who has been sidelined since January 29th with a knee injury, provided a spark by hitting 4-5 shots and more importantly shutting down Griner throughout the night. Cinco advances to the Region 3 Quarterfinals for the fourth straight year. The Lady Cougars will take on #6 Bellaire (36-1) on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. at the Campbell Center in Aldine.
Game Stats
MaxPreps Video Highlights
Katy Times Game Recap
Houston Chronicle Game Recap
Athlete’s Connection Game Recap
Video Highlights (Athlete’s Connection)
Video Highlights (High School Gametime)

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Cinco spreads wealth to finish off Cy Springs
4 players score in double figures to stave off pesky Panthers, 60-50
Kelsey Clinch scored 18 points, while Briana Gilbreath, Brandy Dittert, and Demi Clinch each scored 10, to lead the Lady Cougars to a 60-50 Bi-District playoff victory at Katy High School last night over Cy Springs. Cinco shot just under 50% for the night (24-50), which included 7-12 three point shooting. The Maroon and White had a 15-13 lead after one period, and extended that to 34-26 at the break. Kelsey Clinch scored 11 of her 18 points in the first half on 4-6 shooting, while Gilbreath scored 7 of her 10 points in the 2nd stanza. Cinco pushed the lead to 16 points at the end of the third period, 48-32 , behind the play of Dittert, who scored 7 of her 10 in the period and also finished the night with 5 rebounds to go along with 4-6 night from the field. Cy Springs would cut the lead to 8 points at 48-40 midway through the fourth quarter, but Cinco responded to close out the win and advance to the Area Round for the 5th consecutive year. Demi Clinch finished the night perfect from the field by going 4-4, including two three-pointers, while sister Kelsey ended 7-12 on the evening. Gilbreath sprinkled the stat sheet with 11 rebounds, 8 steals, 7 assists, and 2 blocks to go along with her 10 points. The Lady Cougars will be back in action on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. at Cy Ridge High School, where they will take on Nimitz and their 6’8” sensation, Brittney Griner. Cinco defeated Nimitz 49-45 in the Brazos Valley Tournament in College Station in late December. The Lady Cougars have knocked Nimitz out of the playoffs in the Area Round in each of the last two seasons.
Game Stats
Katy Times Game Recap
Athlete’s Connection Game Recap
Video Highlights (Athlete’s Connection)
High School Gametime Recap
Video Highlights (High School Gametime)

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Gilbreath “Chevy Prep Ticket” Player of the Week
Gilbreath Houston area Player of the Week

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State Rankings
TABC State Rankings
TGCA State Rankings
MaxPreps State Rankings
TexasGirlsBasketball.com State Rankings

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Cinco last torch bearer for District 18-5A
Elsik takes beating from Cy-Fair in Regional Quarters
District 18-5A Standings
MaxPreps Region III Rankings

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Cougars Unleashed on State
Katy’s playoff hopes squashed by 28-0 run; Cy-Springs awaits Cougars
Cinco Ranch buried Katy by scoring the first 28 points of Tuesday night’s game before coasting to a 60-34 victory to cap their third straight undefeated District season. The Lady Cougars finish the regular season 26-7 and 14-0 in District 18-5A, while Katy slipped to 19-14 and 6-8 with the loss. Katy got the help they needed from Hastings, as the Bears defeated Alief Taylor, 63-44. But the Lady Tigers faced a Cinco team that hit six three-pointers in the opening period as eight different Lady Cougars got into the scoring fray. Katy scored their first basket with 40 seconds left in the quarter, which ended 28-3 in Cinco’s favor. The Maroon and White finished the night 9-17 from behind the arc, a 53% clip. Briana Gilbreath led the Cougars with 11 points, while also collecting 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Brandy Dittert was 4-6 in the first half and finished the night with 10 points to go along with 3 steals. Demi Clinch also finished the night with 10 points. Kellie Ros scored 9 points, all on threes, and had 3 steals. The trio of Ros, Dittert, and Gilbreath combined to go 7-11 from three point range on the night. DeDe Nwanguma and Jessica Weiss combined for 10 rebounds on the night. The Lady Cougars defense was also effective, combining for 13 steals and 7 blocked shots on the night. Cinco will start their quest for Austin against Cy-Springs at a site and time to be determined later today.
Game Stats

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Gilbreath nominated for McDonald's All-American Game
USC commit one of 57 Texas nominees
Briana Gilbreath has been nominated for the McDonald's All-American Game, which will take place March 26th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The team will consist of 20 players from around the country and will be finalized in mid February. Gilbreath is averaging 14.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 3.8 spg, and 1.7 bpg. She has been a four year starter for the Lady Cougars and an integral part of the team’s four straight District Championships, while also helping guide the team to three straight Regional Quarterfinalist appearances. Over the course of her four years, Cinco has a record of 109-21 (.838) and a District record of 52-1 (.981). Gilbreath is trying to join sister Stefanie as the only other Lady Cougar to have appeared in this prestigious game. Click on the ‘Photos’ tab to see the nomination.
McDonald’s All-American Game Official Website
McDonald’s All-American Game Nominees
McDonald’s All-American Game Selection Process
Athlete's Connection feature story on Gilbreath

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Sub-Varsity Update
All three teams capture District titles
JV--27-1 (13-1)
Freshman A--26-1 (13-1)
Freshman B--8-3 (7-1)

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Cinco on the Cusp of Perfection
All 11 players crack the scoring column on Parent Night
Briana Gilbreath scored 14 points, Kelsey Clinch 13, and DeDe Nwanguma 10 to lead Cinco Ranch past Mayde Creek 67-25 on Friday night. It was the final home game for seniors Gilbreath, Clinch, Shantel Nwanguma, Hannah Harris, Jessica Weiss, and Ezzie Sparkman. Sparkman scored a season high 9 points in the win. Cinco jumped to a 17-9 lead after one quarter, and pushed that to 31-13 at the half. Leading 44-23 after three quarters, the Maroon and White posted a 23-2 fourth quarter. Clinch also had 6 steals on the night to go along with her 13 points, 9 of which came in the opening quarter. Gilbreath scored 9 of her 14 points in the 2nd half. Cinco will try and wrap up their third straight undefeated District campaign on Tuesday night at Katy. The Lady Tigers need a win plus an Alief Taylor loss to Hastings to force a one-game playoff for the 4th and final playoff spot out of 18-5A.
Game Stats

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Lady Cougars Reign Supreme in 18-5A
Cinco batters Rams to clinch 4th straight District title
Briana Gilbreath scored 20 points, Demi Clinch 12, and Kelsey Clinch 10 to lead Cinco past Elsik 61-43 on Tuesday night to sew up their 4th straight District Championship. The win was also the Lady Cougars 50th consecutive triumph over league foes dating back to the 2004-2005 season. It was also the third straight year Cinco has clinched the league crown in a game against Elsik.
The first quarter was a struggle for both teams, as neither were able to get much going offensively. Cinco held a 10-9 lead after one period before Elsik managed to take the lead 15-13 halfway through the 2nd stanza. The Cougars were able to brush off Elsik's physical style of play and ended the 1st half on a 14-0 run to take a 27-15 lead at intermission. Cinco then came out strong in the 3rd quarter, scoring the first 9 points to cap a 23-0 scoring run against the beleagured Rams. More physical play dotted the 2nd half as frustration mounted for the visitors. Cinco's 21-9 third period all but ended any suspense of the outcome, as the Cougars spent much of the 4th period at the foul line, where they were 17-21 on the night. Gilbreath, in addition to her 20 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and had 7 steals. Demi Clinch also littered the stat sheet with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals to go along with her 12 points.
In 2006, Cinco defeated Elsik 47-46 at CRHS for their 2nd straight District crown when Erin Foley took a charge in the closing seconds to negate an Elsik basket that would have given the Rams the win. In 2007, Stefanie Gilbreath's floater in the lane provided the dramatics in a 51-50 win at Elsik that clinched Cinco's third district title.
Game Stats
Athlete's Connection Game Recap

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ANATOMY OF A 50 GAME DISTRICT WIN STREAK:
Milestones:
1st win…vs. Mayde Creek (W 61-30) 1/4/05
10th win…vs. Alief Taylor (W 71-40) 2/8/05
20th win…@ Katy Taylor (LMC) (W 54-44) 1/24/06
25th win…@ Katy Taylor (W 63-39) 12/11/06
30th win…vs. Mayde Creek (W 66-36) 1/9/07
40th win…@ Hastings (W 50-38) 12/14/07
50th win…vs. Elsik (W 61-43) 1/29/08

Wins by:
1-9 points—6 times
10-19 points—16 times
20-29 points—13 times
30-39 points—11 times
40-49 points—4 times

By the Numbers:
26…wins at home
22.8…average margin of victory at home
20…wins on the road
21.6…average margin of victory on the road
4…wins at the Merrell Center
22.5…average margin of victory at the LMC
3…District titles clinched against Elsik in a row
1…smallest margin of victory (Elsik 47-46 and 51-50)
48…biggest margin of victory (73-25 vs. Mayde Creek)

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Seniors lead Cinco past Alief Taylor, 69-57
Cinco on brink of 4th consecutive District Championship
Kelsey Clinch scored 21 points and Briana Gilbreath added 14 to lead Cinco Ranch past Alief Taylor on Friday night. Clinch and Gilbreath scored 29 of Cinco's 41 first half points to pace the visitors. Fellow senior Shantel Nwanguma chipped in with 7 points and 8 rebounds on the evening. The Lady Cougars stormed out of the gates in the first quarter, outscoring the Lady Lions 25-15. Alief Taylor cut into that lead in the 2nd quarter behind the strong play of G Verinus Kalu, who finished the night with 22 points. Cinco's 41-34 halftime lead looked to be in jeopardy early in the third quarter when the Lions scored the first 6 points of the quarter to trail by just one, 41-40. Cinco Ranch then used a 15-4 run to end the period to build a 56-44 lead going into the final quarter. The Lady Cougars iced the game in the 4th by going 7-8 from the free throw line, which was part of a 16-19 night from the charity stripe. In addition to Gilbreath's 14 points, the senior also had 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. Cinco can clinch their 4th consecutive District title on Tuesday night, when they host 2nd place Elsik at CRHS.
Game Stats
MaxPreps Video Highlights

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Cinco rips Morton Ranch
20-0 run to start game fuels Lady Cougars to 63-26 win
Cinco Ranch started Tuesday night's District 18-5A game on a 20-0 run to end any suspense of the outcome of the contest. Cinco led 39-12 at the break and 51-17 after three quarters. Demi Clinch scored 16 points to lead the way for the victors, while Briana Gilbreath had 12 and Kelsey Clinch 10. The Lady Cougars maintained their two game lead over Elsik, who was a 53-41 winner over Hastings. Cinco will travel to Alief Taylor on Friday night as they continue their quest for their 4th consecutive District championship.
Game Stats

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Alumni Update
Azizi's Near Perfect Night Helps Lead Pirates to SCAC Win

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Big third quarter propels Cinco over Bears, 54-38
22-6 surge erases three point halftime deficit
Hastings jumped out to an 11-6 lead after one quarter and led 21-18 at the break, before the Lady Cougars finally found their shooting touch in the third quarter to take command of the game. Cinco Ranch's sloppy play in the first half, to go along with cold shooting (7-30), contributed to the halftime deficit. But the third quarter saw six different Cougars get into the scoring column. Brandy Dittert scored 11 of her game high 13 points in the 2nd half to spark Cinco. Briana Gilbreath scored 11 in the win, while also grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. Cinco will host Morton Ranch on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. The Lady Mavericks are coming off of an upset win over Alief Taylor on Friday night (54-53).
Game Stats
Katy Times Recap

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Threes lift Cinco to 57-36 win over Katy Taylor
Clinch and Dittert combine for 6 triples to keep Cougars perfect in 18-5A
Cinco Ranch used the 2nd and 3rd quarters to pull away from rival Taylor on Tuesday night to improve to 8-0 in District play. The Lady Cougars outscored the Mustangs 39-19 in the middle two periods to take control of the game. It was Cinco's 11th straight over Taylor in the series. Senior All-American Briana Gilbreath had 9 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Demi Clinch was the lone bright spot for Cinco in the first period, connecting on two threes to give the visitors an 8-6 edge at the end of one. After a 2-14 shooting performance in the opening period, Cinco got hot in the 2nd as Brandy Dittert hit two threes, while Kellie Ros and Clinch each had one. Shantel Nwanguma was steady throughout, scoring 11 points. Demi Clinch scored 12 to lead Cinco, while Dittert finished with 10.
Houston Chronicle Game Recap
Game Stats

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DEMI-lition
Sophomore sharpshooter connects for career high 18 to spark Cinco win
Cinco Ranch finished the first half of their district season with a 59-41 win over visiting Katy on Friday night at CRHS. Demi Clinch scored a career high 18 points, including three 3-pointers to lead the Lady Cougars. The first period was played more at Katy's pace, as the Lady Tigers stayed close, trailing by just two points at 11-9. Clinch scored 8 points in the 2nd quarter to send the Lady Cougars into the break up 30-14. Kelsey Clinch scored all 6 of her points in the 3rd quarter, while Demi Clinch connected on two three pointers, as the sisters combined for 12 of Cinco's 20 points in the quarter. The Lady Cougars also had solid contributions from Briana Gilbreath and Kellie Ros, who scored 11 and 8 points respectively. The win was Cinco's 45th straight in District play, and they opened up a two game lead on Alief Taylor and Elsik. The Lady Cougars travel to Katy Taylor on Tuesday night as they start the 2nd round of their District schedule.
Game Stats
Athlete's Connection Game Recap

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Balanced attack runs Cinco to 6-0 in District
10 different players score as Cougars rout Rams, 61-25
Cinco Ranch started slowly but finished strong over the final three quarters in posting a road win over Mayde Creek. Briana Gilbreath scored 7 of the Cougars 10 points in the first quarter. Demi Clinch scored 7 of her 9 points in the 2nd quarter to pace Cinco. Gilbreath fnished the night with 17 points, while Shantel Nwanguma chipped in with 7. Kelsey Clinch, DeDe Nwanguma, and Brandy Dittert all had 6 points to lead the balanced scoring Cougar attack. Clinch also had 4 steals. Cinco improves to 18-7 and 6-0 with the win. The Maroon and White will take on Katy on Friday night at CRHS.
Game Stats

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Follow the Lady Cougars on MaxPreps during the '07-'08 year
Cinco Ranch Team Page

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Cinco dismantles Elsik, 63-48
Gilbreath, Clinch, Nwanguma lead impressive road victory in key 18-5A matchup
Cinco Ranch started strong and never looked back in posting a key district victory at Elsik Friday night. The Maroon and White raced to a 24-9 lead after one quarter and extended that cushion to 27-9 early in the 2nd period. Briana Gilbreath scored 9 points in the first quarter that saw six different Cougars crack the scoring column. Cinco led 31-14 at the break. Kelsey Clinch and Shantel Nwanguma led a third quarter surge by combining for 12 of the Cougars 18 points in the quarter. Gilbreath finished the night with 23 points, while Clinch scored 13 and Nwanguma 12. The Lady Cougars improve to 17-7 and 5-0 in district play, while Elsik falls to 21-5 and 4-1. Adaora Elonu led the Rams with 24 points. Cinco travels to Mayde Creek on Tuesday night. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m.
Game Stats

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Lady Cougars finish 2-2 in Brazos Valley Tournament
Cinco defeats Pasadena Memorial and Nimitz, falls to A&M Consolidated and #9 Rockwall
Cinco Ranch advanced to the tournament semifinals before losing 48-45 to A&M Consolidated. In the quarterfinal round, Cinco defeated Aldine Nimitz and their All-American, Brittany Griner, 49-45. Briana Gilbreath scored 12 points in the win, while Kellie Ros had 10. Gilbreath led the Lady Cougars with 26 points in the loss to A&M Consolidated. The Lady Tigers shot 17 free throws in the 2nd half, compared to only 3 for Cinco. Cinco then took on defending state champion Rockwall in the third place game. Shantel Nwanguma scored 12 points, while Briana Gilbreath had 10 in the close loss. The Lady Jackets pulled the game out in the closing seconds to eke out the three point win. The tournament championship game saw Houston Madison defeat A&M Consolidated 54-42. The Lady Cougars will travel to Elsik on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in a key District 18-5A game.

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Gilbreath shoots down Mavericks
Senior All-American connects on seven three-pointers in 67-35 rout
Cinco Ranch opened up play in College Station at the McDonald's All-Star Invitational and eased past Pasadena Memorial, 67-35 in the opening round Thursday afternoon. Briana Gilbreath scored 26 points, 21 of them coming by way of the three-pointer, and Kelsey Clinch chipped in with 11 to lead Cinco. The Lady Cougars used their defensive pressure to offset an uncharacteristic poor shooting performance where they hit just 22-70 from the field. Pasadena Memorial hung around for a quarter, trailing just 7-6, before the Lady Cougars ran away with the game in the middle two quarters. Cinco advances to the 2nd round, where they will take on the winner of the Aldine Nimitz/Booker T. Washington game on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Regardless of the outcome of that game, Cinco will again play at 8:00 p.m. Friday night.

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Cougars Tame Lions, 72-55
Cinco starts slow, finishes fast in moving to 4-0 in district
Alief Taylor jumped out to a 16-5 lead with just over 2:00 left in the first quarter before Cinco Ranch awoke and used a strong 2nd quarter to take control of the game. The Lady Lions came out of the gate strong behind Taylor Texada (8 first quarter points) and the dazzling play of Verinus Kalu to spark the visitors to the early lead. Cinco used its strong defense to take control in the 2nd period, outscoring Alief Taylor 25-8 to take a 39-27 lead at intermission. Demi Clinch scored all 9 of her points in the second quarter to pace the home team. Ayla Adams scored all 8 of her points in the first quarter to keep the Lady Cougars close in the early going. Cinco led 55-33 after three quarters and coasted in the fourth quarter to improve to 14-5 and 4-0 in District 18-5A play. Kelsey Clinch paced the victors with 15 points, while Briana Gilbreath scored 12 points while adding 6 assists, 6 steals, and 6 blocks. Cinco will travel to College Station after the holidays and play in the Brazos Valley Tournament, where they will open up with Pasadena Memorial on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
Game Stats

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Overmatched
Cinco races to 23 point halftime lead, rolls to 70-42 victory over Mavericks
Cinco Ranch continued their torrid shooting of late, hitting on 50% of their shots as Brandy Dittert scored 16 points and Briana Gilbreath 13, in leading the Lady Cougars to the district win. Dittert finished 7-9 from the field to pace Cinco. Gilbreath added seven assists and five steals in the win. Cinco improves to 13-5 and 3-0 in District 18-5A play. The Lady Cougars host Alief Taylor on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.
Game Stats

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Cinco Grinds Out Win Over Bears, 50-38
Lady Cougars break open close contest in final quarter behind Nwanguma, Clinch
Shantel Nwanguma scored 8 of her game high 18 points in the 4th quarter, and Kelsey Clinch sank three three-pointers in the 2nd half to lift Cinco Ranch to a hard fought district win over Hastings on Friday night. The Lady Cougars used their depth to wear down the Bears, who only dressed seven players.
Game Stats

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Lady Cougars Run Past Mustangs in District Opener
Cinco explodes in 2nd half for 39th consecutive district win
Cinco Ranch used a 41-12 run over the last two quarters on their way to a 33 point win. The Mustangs hung with the Cougars for a half, trailing just 31-26 at the break behind the hot shooting of Lexie Ray and Ali Marzella. In the third quarter, Taylor hit a quick three to cut the Cinco lead to 31-29, before Cinco turned up the pressure and breezed to their 11th win of the year. Cinco shot 53% from the field, as nine different players cracked the scoring column. Briana Gilbreath (15), Shantel Nwanguma (14), and Kelsey Clinch (12) led the Cougars in another hot shooting night. Cinco will travel to Hastings on Friday night to take on the Bears. Hastings (9-1) defeated Morton Ranch 59-41 in their district opener on Tuesday night.
Game Stats

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Gilbreath leads Cougars over FB Marshall, 49-41
All-American has 13 points and 18 rebounds in final non-district tune-up
Game Stats

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Lady Cougars finish 2nd in KISD Tourney
Maroon and White net quality wins over Westbury Christian and CC Carroll; fall to Cy-Fair 60-37 in final
Cinco Ranch finished runner-up to Cy-Fair in the KISD Tournament held the last weekend of November. The Lady Cougars defeated Kempner 71-10, Westbury Christian 47-34, #17 Corpus Christi Carroll 58-47, before losing in the title game to the Bobcats.

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Cinco drills Kempner, 71-10
Game Stats

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Cougars shoot down Bryan, 63-56
Gilbreath scores 21; Cinco shoots 51% from the field to stave off Vikings
Game Stats

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Cinco tops Dobie for 2nd time in five days, 49-32
Adams scores career high 17; Cougars improve to 5-4
Game Stats

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Cougars rip Westside, even record at 4-4
33 point win first ever over Wolves
Game Stats
Athlete's Connection Game Recap

Other District 18-5A Scores from 11/19
Alief Taylor (4-2) 54 Memorial (0-5) 50
#14 Conroe (8-0) 68 Katy (5-2) 43
Morton Ranch (3-3) 38 Seven Lakes (3-4) 26

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Sub-Varsity Update
JV Cougars take KISD Tournament Championship
Cinco Ranch defeated Memorial, Morton Ranch, Cy-Fair, and Cy Springs to capture the KISD Tournament title this past weekend. The complete bracket can be found in the 'Handouts' section. The JV team also stayed unbeaten by defeating Westside on Monday night, 37-35, on Tara Cioccia's three pointer as time expired. It was the Lady Cougars only lead of the night.

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McDonald's Invitational Recap
CRHS goes 2-2 in three day tourney
Cinco Ranch earned a 6th place finish out of 18 teams this weekend, earning wins over North Crowley and Dobie, while losing games to Dickinson and Cy-Fair. DeSoto defeated Dickinson in the championship game, while Mansfield Summit beat Pflugerville in the third place game. The Lady Cougars lost the fifth place game to Cy-Fair, 64-57, on Saturday afternoon.
Cinco Ranch-Dickinson Stats
Cinco Ranch-Dobie Stats
Cinco Ranch-Cy-Fair Stats

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Cinco breezes to opening round win, 70-36
Four players in double figures as Lady Cougars advance over North Crowley; Class 4A power Dickinson on tap for today
Game Stats

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McDonald’s Invitational Preview
8 out of 16 in bracket are state ranked; Louisiana power Southwood looms as potential 2nd round matchup for Lady Cougars

Cinco Ranch will compete in their first tournament of the ’07-’08 season this weekend, and they are included in a bracket loaded with perennial powerhouses. Cinco faces North Crowley in a first round matchup on Thursday, and a victory in that game would pit the Lady Cougars against either Class 4A #2 Dickinson or Southwood (Shreveport) in the 2nd round. Also included in the bracket are #1 Cy-Fair, #2 DeSoto, #5 College Park, #10 Mansfield Summit, and #17 Pflugerville.
Southwood has won nine out of the last thirteen 5A state titles in Louisiana. They were runner-up twice in that span and were 37-4 last season. The Lady Cowboys will have their hands full with Dickinson, who only lost to #7 Bellaire by eight points last Friday. The Lady Gators returns many key members from last season’s squad that made it to Austin and reached the state title game.

For directions to the numerous game sites for the McDonald’s Invitational, click on the ‘Locations’ link to the left.
Official Tournament Website
McDonald’s Invitational Division 1 Bracket

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Gilbreath signs letter of intent to play at USC
Houston Chronicle Article

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Win number 1 derails State number 1
Lady Cougars use balanced scoring attack to defeat top ranked Cy-Fair, 54-46
Game Stats

Other District 18-5A Scores from 11/14
Katy Taylor (2-1) 77 Waller (1-3) 37
Morton Ranch (2-3) 58 Cy Creek (1-4) 53
Elsik (2-0) 68 The Woodlands (3-2) 59
Katy (3-0) 56 A&M Consolidated (0-2) 54
Hastings (2-0) 43 Baytown Sterling (1-2) 38
Cy Ridge (1-2) 57 Mayde Creek (1-2) 41
Alief Taylor (1-1) 67 Alvin(1-2) 35

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Dulles uses strong 3rd