For those of you who think this is a football state; that basketball should be tolerated in the winter, if at all; that girls should still be playing “three on one side of the court” (Why would anyone think THAT??), you should have been at Texas A&M, June 27 through June 29, for a basketball bonanza: 71 high school ladies’ teams joined the version from Llano, and the Jackets, in 45 hours, played the same number of games they did in district this year.

June 27, 4 p.m., Student Recreation Center

After winning by default earlier in the day, Llano got three three-point field goals from Lauren Parker to open the action against Slocum, which is about 40 miles west of Nacogdoches. “That really helped my confidence,” Parker said.

Caitlin Coffey would wind up with 18 points, and Kirsty Fogelberg, who will run over or around anyone with a pony tail (Do they still call them “pony tails?”) contributed ten as the team, coached by recent-graduate Cierra Thompson, began the weekend in the Small Varsity Division with a 48-29 victory.

June 27, 7:15 p.m., Reed Arena

The big court at Reed was turned into three basketball venues for this marathon of hardwood hyperbole. Llano’s opponent was Cisco, 45 miles east of Abilene. Ashley Schroeder, who totaled 11 points, made a pair of impressive hoops and the Black and Orange had a 9-6 lead. The Lobos answered with a 22-2 run and won, 39-25.

“We were frustrated by little things,” Thompson pointed out, “and that hurt us.” Her coaching record would not be hurt again for a long time.

June 28, 9:30 a.m., Recreation Center

In the shadow of Kyle Field, the Jackets were back at work on one of the Center’s six courts. Parker had a dozen points and Olivia Hutto and Coffey had eight each against North Forest of Houston. (The games were comprised of 17-minute halves with the clock only stopping for timeouts.)

Llano built a 26-12 lead, and then North Forest’s Diamond Webb became the three of Diamonds--she hit four threes and a deuce to reduce her team’s deficit to 28-26. Coffey and Hutto took charge of the rejuvenation project, and the Jackets escaped with a 38-29 win.

“We took them out of their element; we blocked out great under the glass,” Coffey explained.

“We wanted this one more than we wanted the one against Cisco, that’s for sure," Cierra added.

June 28, 1:30 p.m., Reed Arena

“Sometimes when I make shots in practice,” Lainey Wright observed, “I don’t do so well in the games. This afternoon, we didn’t warm up much, and,” and Wright promptly nailed a pair of three pointers in a 39-13 triumph over Leonard (between Dallas and Oklahoma).

The defense is being badly overlooked in this diary, but it was superb all weekend and never more so than against the Tigers, who didn’t get their first field goal till nine minutes had evaporated from the clock. Parker made three consecutive baskets to open the second half, and, for the game, outscored the opposition with 14.

June 28, 4:15 p.m., Recreation Center

Wortham is a Class 1A school, 40 miles west of Waco, and sometimes the smaller school does indeed have an upper hand, or two--but not this time. Carli Clayton, who’d love to join the older girls and make varsity, had two sizzling field goals as the Ladies went on a 23-0 run and led, 45-8.

“Doesn’t anyone on this team miss a shot?” Wortham head coach, Anthony Branch, pleaded, as he sat helplessly in the stands with an equally helpless reporter, who wasn’t nearly so upset. Fogelberg had 12 points while Schroeder and Kallie Johanson each had seven, and Wright came up with six, all in the second half. Kassie Zavadil, the lefty always on the brink of a breakout game, had four.

Is fatigue becoming a factor? “We’re kinda tired,” Ashley admitted, “but once the game begins we forget about that.” Schroeder was also trying to forget about a jammed finger, and Parker, who, like Ashley, proves, while football is a collision sport, basketball is a contact sport, picked up a black eye which did not add to the cost of her dorm room. (You should have seen what the OTHER girl looked like!)

Coffey had a caffeine-driven 20 points, tournament high for the team. (I told you NEVER to use that name association again!) Wortham was walloped, 65-19.

June 28, 8 p.m., Reed Arena

This one was actually in a practice gym down the hall from the Arena. You got the feeling the Aggies have plenty of gyms in case coed basketball or brothers-only, sisters-only or twins-only become national sports.

Clements of Sugar Land took a 6-0 lead over tired-old Llano. The Jackets proceeded to rise and shine: 12 straight points, a 21-10 advantage at the break and a resounding, 52-12, conquest. Eight girls played and all scored; Hutto pitched in 11 while Clayton had 10 and Coffey tallied 14.

Olivia stated: “We converted the steals into points, and we did what we had to do.” Thompson’s thoughts: “We certainly executed the offense.” Is she enjoying coaching? “Oh, I want to play; maybe I can find an extra uniform.”

The round-robin portion of the event is over. Llano had won four in a row (all on June 28) to produce a 5-1 record. The tournament takes place Sunday morning. Everyone get a good night’s sleep.

June 29, 8:30 a.m., Reed Arena, First Round

The Jackets met Leonard again and won, 25-4. Before you asked if the shot clock had been turned off (when you know there’s no shot clock in high school basketball...yet) you should know the games are now 10-minute halves. Llano didn’t allow a field goal till two minutes and 22 seconds were left in the game. Fogelberg muscled her way to 11 points.

June 29, 10 a.m., Reed Arena, Second Round

Lake Country, a private school in Fort Worth, was a formidable foe in this one. It was 8-8 at intermission; Schroeder made a critical three for a 15-10 advantage. When it was 17-15, Llano, she and Parker made free throws to author a 20-15 final.

“That’s a classy bunch of girls,” Lake Country head coach, Tom Etchison, said. “I’m proud we got to play ‘em.”

June 29, High Noon, Reed Arena, Quarterfinals

Let’s just cut to deep stretch. The Jackets led St. Agnes of Houston, 18-17, with about 12 seconds to play. Coffey makes a free throw that’s disallowed because of a lane violation. (Thompson thought the referee had misinterpreted the rule, which, she believed permitted her girls to jump into the lane when the ball left Caitlin’s hands.) Protest