Three Lady Jackets scored double figures in Cleburne’s 50-37 victory over Centennial Friday night at Jeff D. Cody Arena, improving to 12-5 overall and 3-0 in District 8-5A.
Both teams enjoy a week off for Christmas before heading out of town for tournaments to end 2025. Cleburne is listed to attend the Spring Creek Tournament, starting on Dec. 29. Centennial (10-9, 2-1 District 8-5A) heads to Midland on the same day.
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To begin the contest, the Lady Spartans found early success crashing the boards with their size down low.
A 4-4 score through the first three minutes, the Lady Jackets ramped up their press defense that gave Centennial trouble and has factored into the 3-0 start, according to guard Arajai Burks.
Offense stemmed from defense as guards Izzy Guadamuz and Alyssa Franklin took over in the final minutes of the period, combining for 11 points.
Despite a 6-point quarter from Lady Spartan center Jaliyah McNeal, Cleburne finished the first eight minutes on a 12-4 run and held a 16-8 lead.
Perimeter defense from the Lady Jackets forced the Lady Spartans to feed everything inside; however, forward Lily Sheppard commanded the paint area and spotlighted a Cleburne defense that earned multiple blocks and steals.
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Generous whistles from the officials throughout the period frustrated the Lady Jackets, as Sheppard and forward Lauryn Carrizales got into foul trouble.
Centennial earned seven of its nine points in the second from the free-throw line.
Cleburne remained doubled up with the help of Guadamuz and guard Arajai Burks, who scored her first five points of the game. The Lady Jackets led 34-17 into the break.
“We all communicate with each other and hype each other up,” said Burks. “We let each other know to play through the calls, play through the aggressiveness and be there for one another.”
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A hot start to begin the third saw Cleburne go on a 10-4 run through the first six minutes.
The Lady Spartans scored only one point to end the quarter, while Cleburne had a plethora of different scorers. Two makes from Carrizales, a three from Burks and plays made by the Sheppard sisters, Lily and Lyla, gave the Lady Jackets a 44-22 advantage.
Centennial’s best stretch came in the fourth, going on an 11-0 run before Cleburne finally responded. The Lady Spartans went back to McNeal in the post and pressed Cleburne to force turnovers for guard Ellie Stanley. Both scored a pair of baskets.
Guadamuz broke Cleburne’s dry spell with a driving basket.
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The lead was too large for Centennial to make a comeback, even with Cleburne missing all six of its free-throw attempts in the quarter. The Lady Jackets were 3-of-15 from the charity stripe.
Guadamuz led the team in points with 12, followed by Lily Sheppard and Carrizales with 10. Burks ended with eight with a pair of threes.
“We can all play different roles,” Burks on Cleburne’s start. “Not just Lily or Lauryn can get down there and rebound; we can all get down there. They can’t stop just one person, we can play all around.”
McNeal was the only Lady Spartan in double figures with 12; the next highest scorer for Centennial was guard Reaghan Banks with six.
