Plano has been besieged by injuries, but coach Lynn Meger has adjusted and is looking forward to brighter days.

Junior guard/forward Chinyere Nnaji, a Division I prospect, and sophomore point guard Tiane Turner are out for the season with ACL injuries. Junior guard Simone Williams has been bothered by an ankle injury, and sophomore forward Antionette Ollison is injured but is expected back next week.

So with a starting lineup of two sophomores, two freshmen and a senior, Plano has forged ahead with the belief that reaching the playoffs is not a fantasy. It sits at 2-2 in 9-5A and is being lifted by the rapid development of sophomore forward Carson Mansion.

"She was a sub last year, and she's had to step up," Meger said. "She's leading us in scoring, and she's our leading defensive player. We thought she was probably going to be our third or fourth scorer and defensive specialist. Instead, she's having to do both."

Plano (8-13) faces Richardson Berkner at 7:30 tonight.

Arlington Martin faces tough stretch in 8-5A

The next three games will be harrowing for Arlington Martin. The team begins the stretch today against Arlington, a defensive juggernaut giving up less than 30 points per game, and then visits DeSoto and Duncanville – both ranked among the state's top five – Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.

Yet there is no need for Martin (14-7, 2-1 District 8-5A) to panic, coach David Amis said. After all, his senior-dominated team has already downed Cedar Hill in district play and is equipped to handle such rough seas.

Senior post Donna Jackson averages 15 points a game in district play. Senior guard Kelsey Spencer runs the show at the point and dishes six assists per game, and speedy senior Tyler Kiles, who can line up at the guard and post, adds four assists per game.

"Overall, we play pretty good defense and we have a good passing team," Amis said. "They're doing a good job of getting the ball to who's open.

"We're mainly seniors, so the girls have played a lot, and they're pretty good at reading the defense and taking what the defense gives you."

Freshmen take charge offensively for Carter

Having two freshmen on the varsity is reason for the Carter program to look toward a bright future. But the way guard Alicia Hall and post Shaquita Arnick are playing, the future is now.

Hall is averaging 18.2 points, which is fifth among 5A area players. She scored 23 points in Carter's 80-40 loss to Roosevelt in the opening round of the Dallas ISD/Coca-Cola Tournament.

Arnick, who is 6-1, is tied for 10th among area 5A players at 17 points per game. She posted 20 points in Carter's 57-48 victory over Sunset at the DISD tournament. Carter faces W.T. White on Friday at Ellis Davis Field House.

Defending 5A champion is still going strong

Rockwall's 47-game winning streak is over, but the defending Class 5A state champion is as prominent as ever.

Rockwall finished third at the College Station Holiday Tournament and headed into its game Wednesday night against Garland Naaman Forest at 19-5 overall and 4-0 in 10-5A. Rockwall has depended on seniors Sunny Satery, Shelby Adamson and Brittany Coleman – the only three returning players – for leadership and on the offensive prowess of sophomore guard Peyton Adamson to keep the flame alive.

Adamson averaged 20 points on the Rockwall JV last season and is at 20.7 points per game as a varsity player.

"She has 97 3-pointers, which is just unbelievable, and she can put the ball on the floor and score, too," coach Jill McDill said. "She can go all the way to the basket or hit a 15-footer. She's really done a great job offensively."