Girls basketball: Westside to host Cy-Fair

Westside head girls basketball coach Troy Gillespie isn't afraid to face the very best, and that's why Cy-Fair is once again the Wolves' season-opening opponent on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Not only is Cy-Fair the defending Class 5A state champions, but the Bobcats have been a constant nemesis, winning six of seven meetings during Gillespie's first five seasons at the helm.

"We beat Cy-Fair in the regional semifinals my first year, when they were 36-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state," Gillespie said. "Other than that game, we haven't had much luck against them."

Can Westside take down Cy-Fair again? Gillespie doesn't see any reason why the Wolves can't pull another upset.

"Cy-Fair graduated a couple of players off last year's team, but they're still No. 8 in the state (in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' preseason rankings)," Gillespie said. "Cy-Fair has an excellent team, but we can compete with them."

Cy-Fair head coach Ann Roubique, who has led the Bobcats to state titles two of the past three seasons (2007-08 and 2009-10), has plenty of respect for Gillespie and the program he has built at Westside.

Cy-Fair head coach Ann Roubique, who has led the Bobcats to state titles two of the past three seasons (2007-08 and 2009-10), has plenty of respect for Gillespie and the program he has built at Westside.

"Troy is one of the top young coaches in the area. He's very energetic and his teams reflect his personality," Roubique said. "Westside plays a fast-paced, controlled game. It's a tough match-up for us. We're not the same team we were last year. We're going to have to play well to come out with a win."

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: Cy-Fair Bobcats at Westside Wolves

• When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9

• Where: Westside

• What's at stake: It's a huge game for both teams. Cy-Fair is somewhat rebuilding after losing several key players • , so the Bobcats want to prove they're not going anywhere • . Westside is looking for an early signature win that can stamp the Wolves as one of the favorites in District 20-5A and Region III.

• Cy-Fair players to watch: G Cassie Peoples, F/G Tara Warren, G/F Danika Cervenka, G Kelsi Corrales, P Gabrielle Tillman, F/G Kayla Elliott, G Nicole Martin.

• Westside players to watch: G Rachel Cumbo, P/F Erin Luton, F Teisa Jones, PG Alexis Hill, G Brittany Powers, G/P Jamiyla DeBoise.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Cy-Fair: The Bobcats graduated three players off last year's 36-2 squad, including a pair of starters. • Roubique says no one on the roster can replace Chiney Ogwumike, a 6-foot-3 forward and last year's Gatorade National Player of the Year. With Ogwumike joining older sister Nneka at Stanford, • Cy-Fair will be very guard-heavy this season. Peoples, who has already committed to the University of Texas, returns along with fellow guards Warren and Cervenka. • The 5-10 Tillman, new to the varsity, might be the Bobcats' best inside player.

• Westside: The Wolves are loaded, with plenty of returning players from a team that finished 21-11 and advanced to the Class 5A-Region III semifinals. Gillespie is thrilled to see Cumbo back on the court after she missed most of last season with a knee injury. Hill has been tabbed to run the point, while the rest of the starting backcourt will include Powers, Cumbo and Tiffany Davis, who played volleyball this fall. • Luton and Jones are the Wolves' biggest threats inside the paint. DeBoise, arguably Westside's most versatile player, adds depth along with Powers.

• Westside: The Wolves are loaded, with plenty of returning players from a team that finished 21-11 and advanced to the Class 5A-Region III semifinals. Gillespie is thrilled to see Cumbo back on the court after she missed most of last season with a knee injury. Hill has been tabbed to run the point, while the rest of the starting backcourt will include Powers, Cumbo and Tiffany Davis, who played volleyball this fall. • Luton and Jones are the Wolves' biggest threats inside the paint. DeBoise, arguably Westside's most versatile player, adds depth along with Powers.