By Jim Irish
Photos by Justyn Werner
Bastrop faces Weiss, a familiar opponent, in the bi-district round of Class 5A girls basketball.
The playoff contest is at Manor High School at 7 p.m. Monday.
Bastrop's 32 wins (four losses) is a single-season school record, surpassing the 30 wins by the 1995-'96 squad starring Dee DeShay and reaching the third round of the playoffs.
The Bears, ranked No. 25 in Class 5A in the state by Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC), defeated Weiss 61-58 in the final of the Bastrop GM Blackman tournament on Nov. 19.
In that contest, Weiss’ Krystyna Dennis, a 5-foot-11 freshman, reached a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds.
”She was the most dominant one,” Bastrop head coach La Barbera Roberson said about Dennis, listed as a center and power forward. “She’s aggressive. She blocks out. When she’s down low, she’s going to attack the basket.”
"There's no slowdown in their game. They're goin' full speed. They don't retreat."
-- Bastrop coach La Barbera Roberson describing Weiss' style of game
Bastrop will also have to contend with Braelynn Gray, a 6-2 sophomore who scored 10 points along with four rebounds. Roberson said Gray is more of a perimeter player despite her size.
Weiss, fourth in District 23-5A with a 6-6 record, prefers an uptempo game on both offense and defense, Roberson said.
“There’s no slowdown in their game,” she said. “They’re goin’ full speed. They don’t retreat.”
Because of Weiss’ style, Bastrop will have to move quickly on offense and defense.
”We have to get back in transition,” Roberson said. “We can’t stay on one end with all five going for the ball. Otherwise, we’ll get beat down the court.”
Bastrop, which finished second in District 24-5A at 12-2, will counter with tall posts: Navaeh Jones, a 6-1½ senior, and Keyaira Limuel, a 6-2 junior, who recently returned after an ACL tear in her knee.
Jones played a phenomenal game in the first Weiss encounter with 27 points and 27 rebounds.
Limuel, however, had not arrived yet to give the Bears another towering player in the post position. In the three games since her return, Limuel has averaged 16 points and almost 10 rebounds a game.
”This time, (Jones) will get a little more help,” Roberson said about Limuel.
Leading scorer Cook out for the playoffs with ACL tear in her knee
The downside for Bastrop will be the absence of 5-1 point guard Zo’nai Cook, the team’s lightning-fast point guard and leading scorer. Cook tore her ACL for the third time in her young career on Dec. 19 and will require surgery.
Moving into Cook’s spot will be senior Alaysia Williams, averaging seven points, five rebounds, and three assists a game. Roberson said she is able to rotate Limuel and Kenadee Lawhon at point guard.
”Alaysia makes better decisions, plus she’s quick,” Roberson said. “She has a lot of steals and blocks. She will attack the lane if it’s available.”
Shooting guard Lawhon provides a threat from three-point range. The junior is averaging 12.5 ppg but is streaky from long range, connecting on 28%.
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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