Turner helps Westside oust Cy-Fair in girls playoffs

KATY - Westside is not the same when Maddisen Turner is not producing, so when she turned it on immediately after halftime the Lady Wolves knew they were going to be all right.

Turner, a senior post player, sparked a big third-quarter rally as Westside came from behind to defeat Cy-Fair 61-48 in the second round of the Class 6A Region III playoffs Friday night at Katy Taylor.

Westside, which has not been past the second round since 2010, will face Seven Lakes in the third round early next week. Cy-Fair (23-8) fell short in its bid for a second consecutive trip to the third round.

Cy-Fair led by one point at halftime, but the Lady Bobcats' momentum ended when Turner took charge.

Turner, a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signee, scored on Westside's first two possessions of the third quarter. On Cy-Fair's second possession, she made a steal that led to another Westside basket.

Twice early in the second half entry passes into Turner drew double teams. Turner passed to teammates on the wings. Both times they made 3-pointers. Within four minutes, Westside (31-3) turned a one-point deficit into a 40-27 lead.

"(Turner's play) was really big," said Sentreal Gregory, who had one of those 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 22 points. "We were getting tired, and we needed something to energize us."

Turner, the team's second-leading scorer, did not play a scoreless first half due to foul trouble. Turner fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, but by then the Lady Wolves led by double digits and were not threatened thereafter.

"I haven't played a game where I've had fouls like that in a long time," said Turner, who finished with eight points and eight rebounds. "Our team did a great job of moving the ball in the first half and keeping the pace up even though our shots weren't falling and we weren't as tough as we usually are."

Kyler Wyatt scored 20 points, and Angela Harris added eight points for Cy-Fair. The Lady Bobcats had their best moments before halftime.

Without Turner in the game, Westside needed contributions from others. The Lady Wolves got plenty from Nyasia Goldman (10 points) and Tanea Thomas (12 points, nine rebounds).

Facing just a one-point deficit, Westside believed it was in fine shape at halftime. The Lady Wolves were in even better shape once Turner, who had a triple-double (16 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocks) in her last outing, put her stamp on the game.

"Going to her early and often until she establishes her position," Westside coach Troy Gillespie said. "Once she did that you saw the rug get pulled out from under their feet. I saw the whole game change."

Corey Roepken is a freelance writer.