Sunday, May 5, 2024
Gatesville basketball collected their fair share of spots on the recently-released 23-4A All District teams. In total, 11 players were recognized including four first-teamers and one superlative.
After narrowly missing the postseason, the Lady Hornets were awarded four spots highlighted by senior Taylor Coward’s first team selection.
Coward averaged 11.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game on the season, and her numbers were even better in league play. She scored just under 14 points per game and grabbed 9.4 rebounds in district play. She had four double-doubles on the year including a 27-point, 13-rebound performance against China Spring on Jan. 9.
Sophomore Emma Pollard was named to the second team after 13.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in district. Her best game of district – and the season – came on Jan. 30 against regional semi-finalist Connally when she scored 26 points, hauled in 18 rebounds, and blocked six shots.
Paige Sentillas and Riley Higginbotham were each named to the all-district honorable mention team. Sentillas handled the point guard duties for Gatesville this season and dished out 2.7 assists while also grabbing 3.8 rebounds per game and picking up 1.8 steals per game. Higginbotham averaged just under two rebounds and two assists per game for the year.
After a slow start to the district slate, the Gatesville boys basketball team charged back in the second half of the league schedule and made the postseason for the third straight year. They had three first-team selections in West Allman, Rayshon Smith, and Kase Cox with Allman picking up the Co-Offensive Player of the Year award.
Allman, a junior, averaged 16.1 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game and was at his best in the Hornets final two must-win district games. In a road win over Robinson, he had 19 points and 9 rebounds then followed with 16 points in a playoff-clinching win over China Spring. Allman shot over 60% in the wins.
Allman was also named the Most Valuable Player in Gatesville’s tournament championship runs in Cameron and Brownwood and was a nominee for the Mr. Texas Basketball player of the week award after a 27-point, 13-rebound performance over Lake Belton in December.
Smith, also a first-team all-district selection in football, adds a third straight all-district honor to his resume. He was the District 6-4A newcomer of the year in 2022 and was a 23-4A second team selection in 2023. He averaged 9.3 points per game in 2024 and was outstanding in Gatesville’s playoff loss to Jarrell.
Cox averaged 10.6 points and grabbed 6.7 rebounds and was the catalyst in Gatesville’s road win over Robinson on Feb. 9 when he scored 20 points with 16 coming inside the paint. He also had a 22-point outing against the Aussie Travelers in a tournament win in December.
Charlie Winkler and Graceson Stewart were second team selections. Winkler averaged 8.1 points per game and led the Hornets in three-pointers made (56) and percentage (29%). He hit five three-pointers in an early season loss to Lampasas and hit four three-pointers in tournament wins over Maine-Endwell and Pflugerville.
Stewart averaged 4.2 points and 5 rebounds per game while leading the Hornets in field goal percentage at 56%. He had a 17-point, 8-rebound night in the season opening win over Lago Vista and also grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in a loss to Salado.
Hall had his best game of the season in a must-win game against Salado when he went for ten points and had seven rebounds. Phillips averaged 5.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on the year. In a tournament win over Wylie, the sophomore had 16 points, eight rebounds, and a game-winning layup just before the final buzzer.
Allman, Smith, Cox, Winkler, and Phillips will all return from a Hornets team that finished 25-11 winning 25 or more games for the second straight season.
