Swarmed in Houston

By Glenn Nelson
with Chris Hansen
Posted Sat, 02/23/2008 - 22:56 Getting through one of the country's toughest regions, Cy-Fair and the Ogwumike sisters make a case for national recognition.

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PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON

HOUSTON, Texas - There are teams around the country with more depth of talent than Cy-Fair, but none have two inside players as explosive, polished and analytical as the squad out of Cypress, Texas. And in conquering one of the toughest regions around, the Bobcats may have earned the street cred necessary for a national ranking.

Led by the back-to-back brilliance of Stanford-bound Nneka Ogwumike, Cy-Fair bounced Dulles and Kelsey Bone on Friday night, then poured cold water on arguably the hottest team in the Lone Star state, Cinco Ranch and its McDonald's All-American guard Briana Gilbreath, on Saturday to return to the Texas 5A final four.

Ogwumike scored 23 points, hitting 11 of 14 shots, to lead Cy-Fair to a 49-41 victory in the Region 3 championship, less than 24 hours after sticking 26 points, on 11-of-15 shooting, on Dulles. The 6-foot-2 forward, ranked No. 6 in the 2008 class by HoopGurlz.com, proved a nearly impossible puzzle for opposing defenses because her offense is more freelance than structure. Her scoring results from a combination of running the floor, scoring off defense and offensive rebounds and, when all else fails, throwing lobs deep into the paint, when Ogwumike sucks in passes, even barely on target, like a Hoover, explodes off the floor and finishes as reliably as any inside high-school player in the country.

Many of the country's elite teams are blessed enough to claim one player of Ogwumike's stature, but the Bobcats also trot out her younger sister, Chiney, who might be the best player in the 2010 class. Chiney Ogwumike is an inch taller, possibly a little quicker off the floor and equally reliable on the finish. She also does not need structure to score.

Defensively, the Ogwumike sisters offer up enough length, quickness and springs to baffle shooters in most any halfcourt situations - witness Nneka Ogwumike's block-of-the-year, volleyball spike of a Dede Nwanguma attempt for Cinco Ranch. Against Cinco Ranch, they also anchored a stifling press that coach Ann Roubique never called off, serving to wear down Cinco Ranch in spite of its backcourt strength. The Bobcats decided to spring the press just before game time, showing impressive spontaneity and versatility, particularly for a high-school team.

Cy-Fair earned support for a national ranking on Friday from both Bone, the No. 1 player in the 2009 class, and her coach, Doug Lechtenberger, who surpassed the 500-win mark this season. Bone's support speaks volumes as her rivalry with the elder Ogwumike extends beyond the region and into summers past on the club circuit. In fact, during a telling moment during Friday's game, Bone sent Nneka Ogwumike sprawling to the floor with a hard foul to let her know nothing was going to be easy.

“They have to be (considered), definitely,” Bone said. “It’s hard to win in Texas ... I’d take Texas basketball against anyone.”

The question may be, however, whether Cy-Fair is the best team in its own state. The favorite in Austin next week is DeSoto, which has been nationally ranked by several media outlets. The two are on opposite sides of the bracket and could meet in the 5A title game, where Cy-Fair lost last year to Rockwall.

Cy-Fair's lack of an out-of-Texas schedule is its biggest bugaboo. There's also the matter of two losses, both collected while the Ogwumike sisters were competing for Cy-Fair at the state volleyball championships.

Still, the unique situation established by the Ogwumikes is worth more than a little something. The only other team in the country with similar front-line star power is Long Beach Poly, which boasts of Rutgers-bound Jasmine Dixon and 2009 post Monique Oliver, ranked fifth overall in her class.

What the Jackrabbitts have in support of Dixon and Oliver, however, is a depth of Division I talent in the backcourt. Indeed, Cy-Fair's fortunes in any national-level tournament would swing on the contributions it got from its perimeter players.

During this regional, it was more than enough. Senior guards Mansa El and Nichole Morris gave the team an aggressive duo trapping up front and creating havoc. They are capable of knocking down open jumpers and finishing on the break. Cy-Fair also has an unsung hero in senior forward Megan Majewski, who will dive into a pile for a loose ball without regard for her body, fight for every rebound and set tough screens when needed.

At the end of the day, it is Nneka Ogwumike's almost-regal presence that makes Cy-Fair click. She is, by far, the team's best communicator and unquestionably its leader. She also has undertaken a nurturing role with her sister on the court, a process that could elevate Chiney Ogwumike to even higher individual grounds than she has enjoyed.

It is, of course, almost impossible to overlook the parallel fates of Nneka Ogwumike and her team. Both are proven but maybe efficient to a fault, making it a little too easy to overlook them.

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