(Austin) Bowie Be-YOU-tiful Classic

The annual Cen-Tex must see event, the (Austin) Bowie Be-YOU-tiful Classic, showcased some of the strongest teams in the area competing with one another in pool play and then Saturday bracket play on November 12-14, 2015.

Pool A: Stony Point, Lake Travis, Cibolo Steele*, and Austin LBJ

Pool B: (Austin) Bowie, Hutto, Mansfield Legacy, and Victoria East

Pool C: Westwood, Judson, Temple, Vista Ridge

Pool D: Killeen, Pflugerville, SA Reagan, O’Connor

*BOLD denotes pool WINNER

In Saturday’s semi-final action, Vista Ridge beat Pflugerville in a tight game. TCU signee Mikayla Christian led the way with an impressive overall game. She scored a team-high 25 points, set her teammates up well, and got on the glass to lead the break. Danielle Rainey, also a TCU signee, balanced the scoring load by being aggressive and attacking the rim, especially in transition. Pflugerville, led by New Mexico signee Mykiel Burleson, competed hard, but it was not enough to get the win.

In the other semi, Kianna Ray, yet another TCU signee in the tournament, put Bowie on her back from the tip and scored a career high 41 against Cibolo Steele. Ray started the game with a catch and shoot three from the corner, and followed that by draining a “hand down, man down” (credit – Mark Jackson) deep three from the right wing. Really setting the tone for the rest of the game, she continued to score in a multitude of ways: from the post, from the free throw line, and from slashing and taking the ball to the basket. Steele, lead by Oklahoma State signee Alexes Bryant, got down big early, then fought back to cut the lead a little, but Bowie stayed focused and ultimately got the win by a considerable margin.

In the much-anticipated final, the TCU trio of Christian, Rainey, and Ray—who also played together all summer with Texas Elite adidas Christian - GATA—had quite a challenge on their hands. Vista Ridge came out firing on all cylinders and jumped out to an early lead. Christian led the break, delivered timely assists, and scored the ball well for Vista Ridge. Danielle Rainey put on an all-around display of efficiency as well. She ran the floor and converted in transition, got into passing lanes to disrupt the Bowie offense, and also created for teammates. Kianna Ray got into early foul trouble and was limited throughout the first three quarters for Bowie. Despite being down by as much as 30, Bowie competed and cut the lead to 12, but it was too little, too late. Vista Ridge went home with the well-deserved championship trophy.

2016 Standouts
Mandy Karako – Guard, Lake Travis (Northern Colorado signee)
Alexes Bryant – Fwd/Post, Cibolo Steele (Oklahoma State signee)
Ashley Knight – Post, Austin LBJ (Alabama signee)
Kianna Ray – Guard/Fwd, Austin Bowie (TCU signee)
Mikayla Christian – Guard, Vista Ridge (TCU signee)
Danielle Rainey – Guard, Vista Ridge (TCU signee)
Charmaine McBride – Guard/Fwd, Vista Ridge (Incarnate Word signee)
Mykiel Burleson – Guard, Pflugerville (New Mexico signee)
Sara Lewis – Fwd/Post, SA Reagan (Princeton signee)
Anabelle Tovar – Guard, Judson (Houston Baptist signee)

2016 Notable
Sophie Taylor – Guard, Westwood (unsigned senior)
Alexus Moore – Forward, Stony Point (unsigned senior)
Karrington Brown – Forward, Vista Ridge (unsigned senior)
Ke’Aunna Johnson – Forward, Killeen (unsigned senior)
Carmen Williams – Guard, Killeen (unsigned senior)
Mailee Jones – Guard, SA Reagan (unsigned senior)

2017 Standouts
Kianja Cain – Guard/Fwd, Cibolo Steele
Antonia Anderson – Forward, Cibolo Steele
Grace Daniels – Guard, Mansfield Legacy

2017 Notable
Savannah Ralph – Guard, Bowie
Elise Faradory – Guard, Bowie
Nicole Cardano-Hillary – Guard, Vista Ridge
Kandyce Shepard – Post, Westwood
Aspen Howe – Guard, Lake Travis

2018 Standouts
Jhakya Dilworth – Forward, Temple
Keziah Dilworth – Forward, Temple
Marlaina Spearman – Forward, Stony Point
Jordan Ott – Guard, Lake Travis

2018 Notable
Britney Onyeje – Guard/Fwd, Pflugerville
Starr Omozee – Forward, Pflugerville
Caroline Despres – Guard/Fwd, Stony Point

2019 Standouts
Kyra White – Guard, Judson
Hailey Atwood – Guard, Bowie
Nicole Hemphill – Forward, O’Connor
Danielle Davalos – Guard, Westwood