Lamar makes sweep of EC ladies Friday
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

After losing a constant struggle in Rosenberg to Lamar Consolidated earlier in this month, the Lady 'Birds thought of revenge, but it was not found in Friday's game.

El Campo lost 57-56 Jan. 8 due to a fourth-quarter push by the Lady Mustangs. Tuesday's game in Ricebird gym needed no late comeback. Lamar Consolidated outscored El Campo in three of four quarters to win 68-50.

Lamar's win further solidified the district championship battle between the Lady Mustangs, 6-1, and Bay City, 7-0. El Campo, 4-3, is the likely third seed for the playoffs, but it will not be determined until the Lady 'Birds pull away from fourth place Foster, 2-5.

With three games left in the regular season, as of presstime, Foster still had a chance to win out and challenge the Lady 'Birds for a playoff spot. Tuesday, Foster hosted Seven Lakes and the Lady 'Birds traveled to Terry. An El Campo win coupled with a Foster loss would put the Lady 'Birds into the playoffs.

Friday's loss to Lamar Consolidated was a minor setback in El Campo's post-season dreams.

The game went to the Lady Mustangs quickly. All five of Lamar's starters scored in the first quarter while the Lady 'Birds struggled with 10 turnovers.

Chelsi Robinson paced the Lady 'Birds with a 3-pointer and Ebonee Spencer connected for a basket and a free throw, but it was not enough to keep up with Lamar. The Lady 'Birds fell behind 21-6 after the first quarter.

El Campo surged back in the third quarter with free-throw shooting.

Seven different Lady 'Birds combined to hit 14 of 23 free throws in the quarter. Robinson hit the most, with three, and Ashley Thomas came through with a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter.

El Campo totaled 26 points in the quarter but could not stop Lamar's offensive attack. The Lady Mustangs scored 20 points to take a 41-32 lead into halftime.

The second half was much closer, but El Campo could not make up for the first-half defi- cit.

Ashley Brooks led the Lady

Birds with 7 points in the third and El Campo tallied 10 total points. Lamar Consolidated's Kristen Horde led her team with 10 points while the Lady Mustangs totaled 16 for the quarter.

The fourth went to Lamar Consolidated as well. El Campo made one of six shot attempts and committed 10 turnovers. Lamar outscored the Lady 'Birds 11-8 to win the game 68- 50.

After El Campo's game with Terry Tuesday night, the Lady 'Birds will host Bay City Friday and end the season in Foster's gym Feb. 5.

Foster faced Seven Lakes Tuesday and will play at Terry Friday and has beaten both schools in games earlier this season.

There is a good chance both El Campo and Foster could face off in the last game of the year with playoffs on the line.