Monday night's bi-district doubleheader at the Aldine Campbell Center concluded with District 20-5A winner Bellaire playing Memorial, the fourth-place finisher from 19-5A.

The Cardinals beat the Mustangs 61-42 and increased their record to 36-1.

“I never thought of anything like this,” Bellaire coach Mike Kramer said. “I knew we had a good team, but when we started winning tournaments, I saw we had a better team than I anticipated. ...

“It would be fun to get to the finals and catch Cy-Fair. We could go far. We really can.”

If Bellaire continues to play the way they played Monday night and all season, they just may see Cy-Fair in the regional final game, granted Cy-Fair holds up its end of the bargain.

The Cardinals came out shooting. The girls attempted three three-point shots but settled for a two-point basket from Jasmine Hartman. Tammara Marion sank one for a 10-0 lead early in the first. Tamara Torru finally got the Cardinals a three followed by Memorial’s Ashley Sunderhaft who sank one. Bellaire had nine points on Memorial at the end of the first.

Memorial scored five off the bat in the second but Bellaire continued to gain points on the Mustangs. Zoe Rogers made two from the free throw line then immediately hit a three. Annette Davis got one last shot off before the half and sank it for a 35-18 lead.

“We have a good nucleus of kids,” Kramer said. “I think our depth is going to help us. I think I have enough bench play because I run nine or 10 deep.”

The third quarter slowed a bit as Bellaire scored their lowest quarter thus far at 14 and Memorial stayed consistent, scoring nine. Bellaire led by 22 at the start of the fourth and held on.

Kramer, though happy with the win, saw the rust in his team.

“We’ve been sitting since Tuesday and I could see that tonight,” Kramer said. “We looked rusty. But they understand now that it’s one game and you’re out of here.”

Bellaire will face Tuesday’s Langham Creek-Hastings winner at a site and time to be determined.

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