The Llano High School girls basketball team lost to Comanche 43-39 February 11 at Bangs High School in a bi-district championship of the Class 3A Division I playoffs.
The Lady Jackets trailed 9-7 at the end of the first quarter and trailed 20-13 at the half. Both teams scored 12 points apiece in the third period and 14 each in the final stanza.
Toward the end, Llano had a couple of two-on-one fastbreaks that resulted in turnovers. The Lady Jackets had 25 turnovers.
'The girls battled and played extremely hard,' head coach Jay Parker.
Senior point guard Ciara Hays led with 21 points followed by junior guard Sydney Kuykendall with 10.
'Ciara played the best game she's played all year,' Parker said. 'Clyde is a solid team. I think their size bothered us. They were really aggressive out their 2-3 zone. They come from a strong district. They have to battle day in and day out.'
Though the ending came sooner than they wanted, this season of accomplishment is one that will be remembered.
Llano won the District 5-3A championship thanks to posting a 9-1 record. The only loss was in overtime to Ingram Tom Moore 26-23 January 24 in a game the Lady Jackets were seconds away from winning in regulation.
The loss came with three games left in the regular season, and they knew that another loss could mean a co-district championship, which no one wanted.
They won the next two road games – a 49-33 blowout of Comfort January 31 and a double overtime win against Comfort 34-32.
Those victories came without Amelia Robinson, who had an injury that sidelined her.
But in the team's final home game, Llano was determined to finish the job against rival Blanco February 4. Robinson Kuykendall led in scoring with 16 and 10, respectively, the Lady Jackets never let this one ever be in question as they romped to a 38-14 victory. 'We knew we needed to take care of business, so we could keep that match up the way we want it,' head coach Jay Parker said.
This Llano squad has grown to be as mentally tough as it was physically tough.
No player is mentally tougher than Ciara Hays, who went to that position last year. The point guard is considered the team's quarterback and is responsible for lining up the squad's offense and defense and learn the calls.
Parker used one word to describe her.
'Resilient,' he said. 'Not just physically but emotionally, because I'm not the easiest, especially when it comes to a point guard and having to handle the ball as much as she's had to handle the ball. Her having to step into that role and to run a team, maybe that's a lot to ask of anybody. For her to do it with the resilience and determination that she has done it and putting up with me. She embodies what we're trying to be here. She's just been that staple of what we're trying to just turn the whole program into.'
The coach used one word to explain what Robinson, who will play volleyball at Georgia Southern University, has meant to the Lady Jackets. Robinson's family moved to the Llano area to start the 2023-24 school year.
'I'm lucky as a coach and we were lucky as a program to get her,' he said. 'For her to have the success that she's had in volleyball and then to turn around and contribute the way that she has in basketball. You can say what you want, but she's had a huge role in this district championship. So we're just really lucky to have had her and her personality, her demeanor. She fit right in, and that's the other thing with these two seniors. They led our team and we've just come together, and that's what you gotta do to win.'
This year's team ended a 17-year drought of not winning a district crown. These Lady Jackets also have this gold ball trophy next to the won the volleyball team won in the fall. It's the first time the Llano girls athletic department has won volleyball and basketball district titles in 53 years.
It will return juniors Bailey Niemeyer, Kenna Moore, Peyton Parrish and Kuykendall and sophomores Hailey Lucas, Anna Machuga and Addison Priem and freshman Bryndal Mostyn.
Parker is in his third year leading the program, but this is his first district title as a head coach with a group that Parker couldn't talk about and keep his emotions intact.
'Which makes it even that more special,' he said. 'I'm just glad to be a part of that.'
