By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

Twenty-eight Austin-area teams will begin their quest for a state championship next week. Bi-district playoff games will be played Monday and Tuesday.

• Austin-area bi-district playoff schedule
• UIL state playoff schedule

Teams to watch

Glenn  (30-2): The No. 7 team in Class 5A will look to avenge last year’s first round loss to Kerrville Tivy. The Lady Grizzlies are led by junior forward Somo Okola, senior guard Mariah Houston and freshman standout Libby Lee. Glenn won District 25-5A and beat Liberty Hill twice. A rematch with the Lady Panthers in the 5A-Region IV finals could be on the horizon should both teams reach the regional finals. The Lady Grizzlies will first have to get past a potential third-round matchup with last year’s regional champion, No. 4 San Antonio Wagner.

Liberty Hill (33-2): The 10^th-ranked team in the state in Class 5A has reached the regional finals in the each of the past two seasons. Junior guard Gabby Mundy and junior post Evie Bruce will be the catalyst for a talented Liberty Hill team throughout the playoffs. The Lady Panthers have a much easier path to the regional finals than their other District 25-5A counterparts.

Hendrickson (25-7): Like Liberty Hill, head coach Norma Sierra’s squad is trying to reach their third-straight appearance in the regional finals. The Lady Hawks are ranked No. 8 in Class 5A and have put it together and haven’t lost in 2024. Hendrickson is the District 23-5A champions and have won 12 straight games since Dec. 28, 2023. A potential regional quarterfinal matchup with No. 20 Lamar Fulshear looms in the regional quarterfinals.

Georgetown (25-6): The No. 19^th-ranked team in the state in Class 5A are aiming to reach the regional finals for the first time since 2021. Junior guards Reese Hoadley and Bella Dabbs lead a very talented Lady Eagles team that finished second in District 23-5A. Georgetown ran into a good second-round opponent in the 2023 playoffs and will likely do the same this year in District 22-5A champion Killeen Chaparral, which is ranked No. 16.

Westlake (24-5): The Lady Chaps are the No. 16 team in Class 6A and have the potential to make a deep run in Region IV-6A. Westlake has an experienced backcourt in senior guards Bella Hesse and Gianna Angiolet. On the upside, the Lady Chaps will avoid a potential regional quarterfinal matchup with reigning Class 6A state champion San Antonio Clark. However, an area-round matchup with either No. 14 Converse Judson or No. 11 Cibolo Steele stands in the way of Westlake’s road to the regional tournament.

Players to watch

Sayler Bourland, Vista Ridge: The junior guard has the Lady Rangers playing really good basketball. She helped Vista Ridge win their fifth straight district championship.

Maddie Broxterman & Marissa Kawamura, Vandegrift: The Vipers won eight games in the 2022-23 season. First-year head coach Tiffany Linton has turned around the program at Vandegrift with the help of Broxterman, a freshman, and Kawamura, a sophomore.

Kylie Trilcek, La Grange: The Lady Leopards’ sophomore guard has propelled La Grange to a second-place finish in 22-4A. She is La Grange’s leading scorer.

Taylor’s Big 3: Sophomore Madyson Mitchell, along with seniors Asia Zachary and Ansley Reed helped the Lady Ducks go undefeated in District 22-4A.

Niyah Waters & Amya Edwards, Hendrickson: Hendrickson’s frontcourt of Waters and Edwards have caused a lot of problems for opponents this season.

Riley Moore, Lake Travis: The senior guard dropped 25 points in Lake Travis’ convincing win over Bowie on Tuesday to take momentum into the postseason.