The Floydada Lady Winds gather in a huddle during a time out on January 28, 2022. (Ryan Crowe/FCR)
FLOYDADA – A free throw in basketball is far from a ‘gimme’ – and the Lady Winds learned that the hard way by missing 21-attempts in a disappointing loss of 60-49 to the Hale Center Lady Owls on Friday night at Whirlwind Gym. Hale Center’s win puts them in a tie with Floydada for first place in the girls 4-2A basketball race, and a potential heads-up tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed since the Lady Owls (18-11, 5-2) have now defeated the Lady Winds (18-8, 5-2) in both of their district meetings.
The Lockney Lady Horns (23-7, 4-3) are right on their heels and very much in the seeding discussion after their 38-31 win over the New Deal Lady Lions at Longhorn Gym.
Hale Center took a 27-23 lead at halftime. Floydada fought back in the third quarter to regain a slim 35-34 advantage going to the final stanza. It was in the final eight minutes of where the free throws made a noticeable difference as Hale Center outscored Floydada by a dozen points, plus the Lady Winds had three players (Celese Wickware, Zay Santos and Analise Perez) foul out of the game.
Hale Center had three players score in double figures led by Layla Juarez with 17 including a trio of 3’s from the arc, Makayla Espinosa had 16 and Jazzlyn Guerra put in 12.
Floydada senior Celese Wickware had a double-double with 12-points and 11-rebounds in a losing effort. Zay Santos was the leading scorer with 16. The Lady Winds did not make a three-pointer in the entire game. Floydada was unable to utilize its rebounding domination by grabbing 25-more boards than Hale Center.
The Lady Winds will conclude the regular season at Ralls on Tuesday, February 8. Floydada has clinched a state playoff berth, but is uncertain of their seeding in this well-balanced district.
HALE CENTER – 12 15 7 26 – 60
FLOYDADA – 9 14 12 14 – 49
halftime: Hale Center 27-23
third quarter: Floydada 35-34
records: Floydada (18-8, 5-2), Hale Center (18-11, 5-2)
Floydada scoring:
Zay Santos – 16
Celese Wickware – 12
Erin Trevino – 8
Sierra Snowden – 7
Soriah Wickware – 6
Hale Center scoring:
Layla Juarez – 17
Makayla Espinosa – 16
Jazzlyn Guerra – 12
Floydada rebounds:
C. Wickware – 14
Snowden – 11
Santos – 7
Lailah Burks – 6
Analise Perez – 5
S. Wickware – 4
DISTRICT 4-2A Girls results (Friday, Feb. 4)
Hale Center 60 Floydada 49
Lockney 38 New Deal 31
Ralls – open
DISTRICT 4-2A Girls standings and season records
Floydada 5-2 * 18-8
Hale Center 5-2 * 18-11
Lockney 4-3 * 23-7
New Deal 3-5 * 17-16
Ralls 1-6 4-23
*clinched playoff position
DISTRICT 4-2A Schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 8
Floydada at Ralls
Hale Center at Lockney
New Deal – open
