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SMITHVILLE — The Smithville Tigers varsity girls basketball team secured its first district championship since the 2018-19 season with a 33-25 victory over Bellville Friday, Feb. 7.
The Tigers finished the regular season with a 24-9 overall record and a 9-1 mark in district play.
Fueled by the energy of Senior Night, Smithville came out strong, opening the game on a 7-0 run. Junior Sydnie Brenner sparked the early surge with a key 3-pointer, helping the Tigers take a 12-2 lead into the second quarter.
Defense dominated the early minutes of the second period, as neither team scored for the first four minutes. Senior Arabella Gutierrez finally broke the drought with a 3-pointer, extending Smithville’s lead to 15-2. Gutierrez led all scorers with 13 points.
The Tigers entered halftime with a commanding 14-point advantage, but Bellville responded in the third. Smithville’s offense stalled, and the Brahmas capitalized with a 12-4 run, cutting the deficit to 24-18 heading into the final eight minutes.
Despite the struggles, Smithville’s girls held on down the stretch with a strong defensive effort and clutch free throws to seal the win — seeing Head Coach Jamie Kadlecek secure the district championship in her first season back at the helm.
The victory capped off a stellar regular season for Smithville, highlighted by key wins over La Grange, Giddings and Navasota.
The Tigers now shift their focus to the postseason, where they face Brookshire Royal Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the bi-district round. A win would set up a matchup against either Jarrell or Robinson, with the time and location to be determined.
