By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
JARRELL – If District 25-5A (Cedar Park/Glenn/Liberty Hill) is the “District pf Doom,” then 24-4A is the “District of Terror” – and the Jarrell Cougars women’s basketball team is the last team standing.
Jarrell (26-6, 8-1) defeated Burnet 62-50 Friday to win at least a share of the 24-4A championship, the Cougars first district title since 2020. Jarrell can win the title outright with a win at Marble Falls on Tuesday in the regular season finale.
What’s even more impressive about Jarrell’s district championship is that the Cougars are a relatively young team with only four seniors.
Leading scorer Aniya Taylor (21.4 points per game) is only a sophomore, and her sister Erika Taylor (11.5 PPG) is a freshman.
Aniya Taylor’s game-changing ability was on full display Friday as she scored a game-high 36 points. Her biggest field goal was a three-pointer at the buzzer of the first half that gave the Cougars their first lead of the game.
“We’re young, and to get through this district is no easy task, it’s a dogfight every night,” said Jarrell head coach Marlena Brown. “Our seniors have provided great leadership, and our young players are here every practice to improve, including our 9 a.m. Saturday practices.”
See more photos from Jarrell’s win over Burnet
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Burnet controls first half
The Bulldogs (16-15, 7-2) led for the first 16 minutes of the game and were hot from behind the three-point line.
Burnet got three-point field goals from senior guard Sydney Lough, junior guard Journey Denton and senior forward Sierra Schaefer.
The Bulldogs led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as nine before Jarrell closed out the first half on a run, taking its first lead on Aniya Taylor’s buzzer beater.
Burnet could not find its rhythm in the second half thanks to Jarrell’s perimeter defense. The Bulldogs only made six field goals in the final two frames.
Lough had a team-high 17 points, while Cydney Robinson had eight and freshman center Emma Harshbarger scored seven.
The loss snapped Burnet’s six-game winning streak.
The playoff picture
Three teams have secured playoff berths from 24-4A.
Jarrell and Burnet clinched playoff spots on Tuesday, while Salado (18-14, 5-4) secured its playoff berth Friday with a 63-31 win over Lampasas.
Taylor (11-18, 4-5) will be the fourth team with a win at Salado Tuesday, or Burnet win at home against Lampasas.
With the new playoff format, Burnet and Taylor will be the Division I representatives and Jarrell and Salado will be the Division II representative.
The 2025 Texas high school girls basketball playoffs begin Feb. 10.
