ANDREW SALMI andrew.salmi@granitemedia partners.com
The hype is undeniable behind this Taylor High School girls varsity basketball team under Head Coach Lawrence Bailey as the Lady Ducks opened the 2023-24 regular season Nov. 3 flying high with a resounding 61-32 victory at home over the Lady Lions of Leander High School.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing where we left off,” Bailey said prior to the start of the season. “We’ve got a group coming back and two new players who can definitely help us. I’m excited to see what we’ve got this year and to get these girls going.”
The Lady Ducks kept the Lady Lions at bay throughout the night with very aggressive offense and stout defense. Taylor’s trio of senior Asia Zachary, junior Kionayh Rivers and sophomore Madyson Mitchell showed out in the season opener. Zachary had 18 points on 9-of-16 shooting, Rivers also scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting and Mitchell had 17 points with a team-high three shots made from behind the arc.
The Taylor defense took it to Leander all night as the Lady Ducks frustrated the Lady Lions with 22 steals, nine of which were by Zachary and also five steals from Rivers.
The Lady Ducks were scheduled to play three road games Nov. 7 at Salado High School, Nov. 10 at Academy High School and Nov. 14 at Killeen Chaparral High School. Taylor will host Jarrell High School in a nondistrict contest Nov. 17 for its next home game.
