“Two down and one to go,” Cy-Fair girls basketball coach Ann Roubique said to her team after Thursday’s 67-43 win over Madison in a 5A area playoff game at the Aldine Campbell Center.

“The last thing I told them in the locker room was it’s two down and one to go. The only game that matters is the game that we play next week,” said Roubique.

The ‘two down’ Roubique is referring to is the two games they’ve won in this post-season. The first came against Alief Taylor and Thursday night against Madison.

The Bobcats' first half performance won them this game.

Cy-Fair (34-2) jumped ahead 21-9 at the end of the first. Nneka Ogwumike, Nicole Morris and Megan Majewski scored a combined 17 points. The Bobcat defense was solid and didn’t allow Madison inside the three-point line to set their offense, forcing the Marlins to shoot threes.

“The second quarter really dictated (what) the outcome was going to be,” Roubique said.

The Ogwumike sisters started the quarter with a basket apiece. Senior guard Mansa El followed with a three. Chiney Ogwumike scored Cy-Fair’s 30th point and forced Madison to call a timeout. The Bobcats went on an 11-point run to end the quarter. Morris kicked off the run with a three and ended it with two points.

“We were much more effective running the basketball,” Roubique said. “Some of the baskets we got were quick outlets and a lay-up on the other end.”

Both teams scored pretty consecutively in the third as Madison’s senior guard Raquel Jones sank a three near the end.

The Bobcats had a 27-point lead heading into the final eight minutes. Madison’s Tarneshia Burns hit three three-point baskets but the Marlins couldn’t gain ground on the overpowering Bobcats.

Cy-Fair had four girls score in double digits and, in the last two quarters, had girls come off the bench and make shots.

“We had a good game tonight and I think that’s why we had so many kids in double figures,” Roubique said. “The kids that come off the bench, when they get their chance, they want to take advantage of it.”

The Bobcats will play the winner of Friday night's Elsik-Lamar game.

“We have to win the next game and that’s the bottom line,” Roubique said. “Two down and one to go.”

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