The Lady Jackets are a basket away from win

MARBLE FALLS — It took two late free throws for the New Braunfels High School girls basketball team to beat Llano, 41-39, Friday in the American Bank Girls Tournament hosted by Marble Falls.

New Braunfels took the lead by making the free throws with 57 seconds remaining.

However, the Unicorns had two steals off turnovers thanks to a half-court trapping defense. 

The Lady Jackets played tough defense and rebounded misses. 

After the two squads exchanged missed free throws, Llano called timeout and called a play for guard Lauren Parker to shoot a three for the win.

“That was the shot we wanted,” head coach Jessica Quintanilla said. “We were going for the win. LP got a good look at it. The ball went in and out.”

But Quintanilla said the game was decided on turnovers and free throws.

“We had three trips and three turnovers, and they capitalized,” she said. “We were turning the ball over.”

The coach said her players could not set up an offense because they kept turning the giving the ball over.

“Our guards were turning the ball over until we had a chance to get to the basket,” she said. 

Parker helped bring Llano to a 5-2 lead to begin the contest, but New Braunfels quickly tied it.

Caitlyn Coffey scored a bucket and Llano ended the period with a 9-7 lead.

Llano went on a 7-2 run midway through the second period for a 21-17 lead. 

But New Braunfels got four offensive rebounds and finally scored.

Allie Rostron scored the final bucket of the half, 25-19, to give her squad the lead.

The Lady Jackets scored only five points in the third period but still had a 30-29 lead going into the final quarter.

Both teams matched each other point for point until the Unicorns went on a 4-0 run.

After that, New Braunfels always kept the lead.

Quintanilla said she was proud of her players.

“We stepped up and I challenged the kids in the pregame,” she said. “‘These girls don’t think anything of you. They came in and beat a good Del Valle team. We have nothing to lose out there.’ We know how good we are and know how good we can be.”

Coffey ended the game with nine points, two rebounds and two steals. Rostron added eight points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Parker had seven points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists. Olivia Hutto had five points, while Ashley Schroeder ended with four. 

“We played a very good Class 5A school and could have easily won the game,” Quintanilla said. “That’s the bottom line. This is what we want. We want to play teams that challenge us and want to be in a position at the end of the game where we get a chance to win.”

Photo by Virgil Belk/Hill Country Sports Images