Lake Highlands basketball fell to Allen, 83-50, ending the Wildcats’ best season in recent memory.
Lake Highlands and Allen women’s basketball prepare for tipoff ahead of an 83-50 win for the Eagles in the area round on February 20, 2026, at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton. Photo by James Baxley-Cross.
Brystol Steeley nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to open scoring just 23 seconds into the first but Lake Highlands wouldn’t be in front for long. With 3:38 still left in the opening period, the Wildcats had to take their first timeout, down 14-6.
The Eagles’ Kyndal Jones banked in a triple right before the stoppage and finished the first quarter with 10 points and two threes off the bench. She had all of Allen (25-10) behind her, the Eagles shooting 6-8 from beyond the arc in the first.
Natalia Pace got in on the action, too, nailing consecutive 3-pointers to close the period and give Allen a 33-15 lead after one.
That nuclear shooting was hard for Lake Highlands to overcome, despite a solid offensive showing. The Wildcats opened the second determined to cut into the deficit and Reid Ragsdale started the quarter on a personal 7-0 run.
The sophomore guard had one of her best games of the season, racking up 17 points in the contest and scoring from all over the court.
Unfortunately for Lake Highlands, the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run of their own. By the half, Allen led 50-28. Simone Richmond, the senior Eagle and Cornell pledge, denied the Wildcats any chance of a comeback with a big third quarter.
Richmond hit three triples en route to 11 points in the period, including one that was at least five feet beyond the three-point line. She impressed with her offensive skillset all night, scoring through contact and threatening the Lake Highlands defense with her deep shooting range.
She finished the evening with a game-high 25 points, including four 3-pointers, to help lead Allen to a big win.
Richmond has provided an ample scoring punch for the Eagles all year, averaging 18.9 points per game through the regular season. According to SportsDay, that tally ranks ninth out of Dallas-area athletes. That production earned her a spot as a 2026 McDonald’s All American Nominee.
In the bi-district round against Coppell, Richmond faced a rugged defense but stayed composed and made the right plays. Her teammates rose to the occasion, powering Allen to a 40–35 victory despite the Cowgirls trimming a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to three in the final minute.
Richmond’s 2.2 3-pointers per game also slot her among the area’s best, finishing 14th in the category. The Wildcats have some firepower from beyond the arc as well, with Steeley’s 3.1 triples per contest ranking second in the area.
Steeley, who made the winning bucket in Lake Highlands’ bi-district win versus Arlington Martin, tallied 11 points.
Jones and Zaria Kyalo each finished with 13 for the Eagles. Kyalo made her open looks and effectively used her speed to manipulate the defense.
Overall, Allen looked unstoppable throughout the evening, everyone chipping in and converting on tough shots. The Eagles’ 83 points as a team were a season-high, coming at just the right time.
With the victory, Allen has won consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 2023-2024 season. The Eagles will move on to face North Crowley in the regional semifinals.
The Wildcats finish their season as District 7-6A champions, accumulating a 25-10 record.
