By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

In one of her finest performances of a four-year varsity career, Caroline Durbin carried Westlake to the brink of a second-round win.

But a late defensive stand by San Antonio Jay finally slowed Durbin, and it lifted the Mustangs to a 45-35 win in a Class 5A Region IV area playoff game Friday at Lehman High School in Kyle.

The Mustangs (33-4) unveiled a tight man-to-man defense in the final period designed to stop Durbin from touching the ball. The strategy worked to perfection. The Chaps (29-5) totaled just five points in the quarter, and the Mustangs outscored Westlake 12-2 after the Chaps tied the game at 33-33 with 6:48 left in the game.

“They (Jay) are very athletic, and they were putting a lot of pressure on Durbin in that final quarter,” Westlake coach Keith Smith said. “They were making it very difficult to get her the ball.”

Durbin, who scored 20 points while making eight of Westlake’s 13 baskets in the game, attempted just two shots in the fourth against constant Jay pressure.

“When they went man, we had three or four possessions where we didn’t run a play,” Smith said. “That was the difference in the game.”

Westlake’s defense made a big difference after the Mustangs galloped to a 16-8 by the end of the first period. As Jay’s band and raucous support turned Lehman’s gymnasium into a de facto home court for the Mustangs, Westlake buckled down and chipped away at its deficit.

Jay only scored seven points in the second period, and Durbin carried Westlake’s offense with a series of smooth midrange jumpers and a pair of three-pointers. The University of New Mexico recruit capped her 14-point first half with a halfcourt shot at the buzzer that bounced on the rim before dropping through the net. The dramatic trey cut Jay’s lead to 23-21 at half and gave the Chaps a surge of momentum entering the break.

“We bounced back and settled down after that start,” Smith said. “We got our defense going, made a couple of shots, and that’s what got us back into the game.”

Durbin continued her assault of Jay’s defense with six pf Westlake’s nine points in the third period as the Chaps took a 30-27 lead. Jay responded with a four-point spurt before Kayla Ball gave the Chaps their last lead with 7:51 left in the game on a driving layup.

“It’s sad to end the season now, because it’s ending a lot sooner than I think it could have,” Ball said. “I feel like we made each better all year and helped each other to grow. It was great to play with all these girls.”

Jay’s touted tandem of point guard Julissa Garrett and forward Erica Donovan took control of the game in the fourth period. Garrett had 15 points, Donovan added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and the pair combined for the Mustangs’ final 20 points.

In comparison, no Chap besides Durbin had more than five points.

“We had our chances,” Smith said. “I’m really proud of the girls for how they fought back tonight and, really, for the whole season. We have four starters [Ball, Courtney Duever, Cherrell Mays and Hannah Coley], coming back next year. If they stay hungry, we have a chance to be pretty good.

“But we have to replace a big-time player in Durbin. She went out like a Division I player tonight. She played great.”

 New and notes

Westlake had 21 more turnovers against Jay, giving the Chaps 42 turnovers in two playoff games. … Lauren Ambrose came off the bench and hit her lone three-point shot. … Westlake’s sophomore backcourt of Cherrell Mays and Hannah Coley struggled against Jays’ defense by shooting a combined 0-10 from the floor. … Courtney Duever, Westlake’s leading scorer for the season, made just one of eight shots but led the team with six rebounds and four steals. … Only four seniors suited up between both Jay and Westlake. … Westlake’s defense, which finished the regular season second in points allowed among 5A teams in Central Texas, held Jay 15 points below its average.

 

San Antonio Jay 45, Westlake 35

Jay        16   7     8    14 – 45 

Westlake        8     13   9    5   – 35 

San Antonio Jay (33-4) – Taylo 2-6 0-0 6, Garrett 5-12 5-7 15, Donovan 4-9 4-6 12, Orr 3-4 0-1 6, Stubbs 2-4 0-0 4, Pichon 1-3 0-0 2, Evans 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-39 9-14 45.

Westlake (29-5) – Gomez 0-2 0-0 0, Mays 0-5 1-2 1, Ball 2-4 1-2 5, Duever 1-7 2-2 4, Durbin 8-16 1-3 20, Coley 0-5 0-0 0, Ambrose 1-1 0-0 3, Manzano 1-1 0-0 2, Bell 0-0 0-0 0, Vermillion 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-41 5-9 35.

3-Point goals: Jay 2-8 (Taylo 2-3, Stubbs 0-1, Pichon 0-1, Evans 0-1, Donovan 0-2), Westlake 4-13 (Durbin 3-5, Ambrose 1-1, Mays 0-1, Duever 0-2, Coley 0-4). Rebounds: Jay 28 (Donovan 11), Westlake 26 (Duever 6). Assists: Jay 8 (Donovan 3), Westlake 6 (Coley 2). Steals: Jay 13 (Taylo 4), Westlake 6 (Duever 4). Blocks: Jay 1 (Donovan), Westlake 1 (Bell). Turnovers: Jay 16, Westlake 21. Total fouls: Jay 8, Westlake 13.