Powers, Lane, Darden snag top district honors
March 21, 2016
PEARLAND — The Dawson Lady Eagles finished second in the District 22-6A basketball standings while the Pearland Lady Oilers, under new coach Lauren Martens, placed third sending both teams to the playoffs.
Dawson head coach Isabel Gomez saw her girls near or at the top of the district standing for most of the year as they beat defending champion Manvel 38-28 in the first round before falling to the Lady Mavs 53-45 for a tie in the league standings in the second round.
However, the Lady Oilers were able to upset the Lady Eagles 50-44 to drop Dawson to second place and allow Manvel to pull out the district title. Manvel was 15-1 in league play while Dawson was 14-2.
Dawson entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed and opened with a 35-32 win over Port Arthur Memorial in the bi-district round. The Lady Eagles faced the Fort Bend Hightower Lady Hurricanes in the area round who knocked out Dawson with a 52-43 victory.
Pearland also made the playoffs and finished third in district with a 13-3 mark.
The Lady Oilers opened up the 6A Region III playoffs against the Channelview Lady Falcons but were unable to close out a very athletic opponents falling 45-24 to end the season for Pearland.
Dawson's Maddie Powers was named the District 22-6A Most Valuable Player. The senior was instrumental in helping the Lady Eagles contend for the district championship.
"Maddie had an outstanding year," said Dawson head coach Isabel Gomez. " What a great honor it was to be voted on as MVP of the District. She was our best free throw shooter as well as our leader on the court.
"She is an a remarkable kid on and off the court. I have seen her grow into a fine young lady, all around basketball player. UT Dallas is getting a great basketball player."
Powers was a three-year letterman, two-time team co-captain and she averaged 12.6 points per game.
The 22-6A Defensive Player of the Year also belonged to the Lady Eagles as senior Katherine Darden received that honor.
"Being crowned Defensive Player of the Year is a big honor," Gomez said. "Kat played big as well as no wanted to guard her on the court. It has been an absolute pleasure of coaching Kat for four years.
"She has molded herself into a great basketball player. She is undecided on college, but she will be a great asset to their team."
Darden averaged 8.4 rebounds per game, was a four-year letterman, and a two-time team co-captain.
Pearland junior Cierra Lane was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year.
"Cierra, who is a junior, started to become more of an offensive threat the second half of the season and became more of a consistent scorer," coach Martens said. "I am looking forward to her continued development and believe she will be one of our go-to offensive weapons next year."
Lane averaged 9.9 points per game on offense.
Manvel freshman McKinzie Green was named Newcomer of the Year.
Alvin coach Justin Walker was named District Coach of the Year.
Named to the All-District first-team for Dawson was senior Maddie Powers, senior Katherine Darden, and junior Liz Davis.
"Liz did a great job at the 1 position," Gomez said. "She led her team the entire season. She was a play maker and a great defensive player.
"She used this year as a stepping stone to what she can do next year as a senior. She has big shoes to fill, but she is a determined young basketball player."
All-District first-team for Pearland included junior Cierra Lane and Macy Braswell.
"Macy has a very good basketball IQ and court sense," Marten said. "She was a consistent scorer for us on the perimeter and continued to improve upon her defensive skill throughout the season.
"She is a higher percentage shooter for us, and we are looking for her to step up again next year as an offensive threat."
All-District first-team for Manvel included freshman McKinzie Green, senior Imani Wiley, and senior Ally Caudill.
Named to the All-District second-team for Dawson included junior Jada Rogers and senior Ivy Smith.
All-District second-team for Pearland included junior Ravae Payne and sophomore Marissa Hart.
All-District second-team for Manvel included senior Lauren Taylor and senior Alexis Williams.
Named to the All-District Academic team for Dawson included senior Dominique Cox, senior Asia Harris, junior Taylor Morris, junior Liz Davis, senior Maddie Powers, and sophomore Amaya Bickham.
Named to the All-District Academic team for Pearland included Macey Braswell, Sydney Collins, Cierra Lane, Ravae Payne, and Katherine Carson.
Named to the All-District Academic team for Manvel included senior Alexis Williams, senior Imani Wiley, senior Lauren Taylor, senior Kennedy Seriale, freshman McKinzie Green, and senior Ally Caudill.
