Monday, February 10, 1997

Wylie, Merkel girls meet today

Wylie and Merkel will renew their rivalry for the third time this season when the teams meet in a District 6-3A girls basketball playoff game today at 6:30 p.m. at Kimbrell Arena.

The Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Badgers each tied for the second-half title in District 6-3A with 6-1 records. The winner of tonight's game will play Ballinger, most likely on Tuesday, to determine the seedings for the playoffs.

Ballinger was the winner of the first-half title in District 6-3A.

Wylie and Merkel each advanced to this point by winning their final regular season games Friday. The Lady Bulldogs claimed a 59-49 win against Clyde, canning 10 3-pointers.

Wylie was led by Stephanie Anders, who had 22 points, and Mandy Stark, who finished with 18.

Merkel claimed a 40-36 win over Coleman, outscoring the Lady Katz 10-4 in the fourth quarter to get into the postseason.

April Fisher led Merkel with 11 points in the win while Jeanette Lanford scored 8.

Wylie takes a 17-15 record into the game while Merkel is 18-10. The teams split their two meetings this year.

In the first meeting, on Dec. 10, Merkel took a 59-54 win as Jamie Dean scored 16 points and Leslie Jacobs scored 12.

The Lady Bulldogs won the team's Jan. 17 matchup, 52-49, as Meredith Ripley turned in a 3-point play with three seconds left for that triumph.

"If people want to see good basketball game, they'll be at McMurry Monday night," Wylie head coach Randy Courtney said.

Goldthwaite vs. Bangs

BROWNWOOD - Goldthwaite and Bangs will meet on a neutral court to decide the District 12-2A championship after each won at the other's home court.

Goldthwaite, 23-8 overall, and Bangs, 22-10, will meet at 8 p.m. today at Brownwood High School. Both teams finished 9-1 in District 12-2A.

Bangs won at Goldthwaite, 56-53, while Goldthwaite won at Bangs, 55-43.

Tonight's winner will meet District 11-2A runner-up Cisco while the loser will meet Hamilton. Those games will be played Friday night at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

Holliday vs. Haskell

GRAHAM - Haskell will get a third chance to beat Holliday tonight as the two teams square off for the runner-up spot in District 9-2A.

The game is set for 7 p.m. today. at Graham High School.

Holliday, 18-10, beat Haskell 63-46 on Jan. 14, but they were part of a three-way tie for the first-half crown. Seymour beat Holliday, 43-39, to win the district championship Friday and leaving Haskell and Holliday to battle for the second playoff spot.

Robert Lee vs. Bronte

SAN ANGELO - Robert Lee and Bronte will play for the District 26-A championship Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at San Angelo Central High School.

Both teams finished 4-2 in district and they split their regular-season district games.