On the sidelines: Cleburne girls basketball

As the final buzzer sounded inside Jeff D. Cody Arena in Cleburne’s 2024 regular season finale, hopes of the program’s first playoff berth since 2020 were shattered by one basket as the Lady Jackets fell to Everman, 35-33.

In her first season as head coach, Tiffany Hill was upset she didn’t reach her goal of the postseason.

“I felt we had the talent, the caliber of kids to get there,” said Hill. “But I had to be realistic with myself.”

In reality, the 2024 season exceeded expectations. As Hill mentioned, she wasn’t hired until July and didn’t get a true offseason with the Lady Jackets. The only true preparation heading into the regular season was fall ball.

Plus, Hill received a roster of nine sophomores and one junior who had little to no varsity experience.

Despite these setbacks, Cleburne went on to win 20 games and stayed in many of its losses.

As the final memory of 2024, the Everman loss was not a representation of the end of Cleburne's season; it’s only the beginning of a program on the rise.

“We don’t want to feel like that again,” said power forward Lauryn Carrizales about being eliminated in 2024. “I think about it a lot. I watch film from that game all the time. It definitely motivates the team because we’ve never been to playoffs and we want to go.”

Nearly a month into the 2025 season, Carrizales and the Lady Jackets sense something special brewing. Impressive wins over Midlothian and Brock, a close loss to playoff contender Aledo and an even record in their two tournament appearances leave Cleburne with a 7-5 record.

“I’m happy with the way we’re playing,” Hill said. “We’re playing high-level, competitive teams.”

Along with the full offseason to work together, the Lady Jackets emphasized the improvement in conditioning. According to guard Alyssa Franklin, conditioning has helped the team build a stronger mindset.

Also motivated by the Everman loss, Franklin has spent the past year working on her skills while playing AAU ball for the second year in a row and attending college camps.

As her confidence rises, so has her finishing ability in the paint, ball handling and intuition to capitalize on opportunities when they present themselves.

“She’s so special,” said Hill on Franklin. “She reminds me so much of myself in many ways because you want to please your coach and you want to work hard to get there.”

Calling Franklin a leader throughout the offseason, Hill trusted her junior guard in the season opener versus Midlothian on Nov. 7. In the 59-38 home win, Franklin dropped a team-high 18 points.

“I was definitely nervous because it was the first game of the season,” Franklin admitted. “Once we tipped off and got possession, everyone relaxed and felt the energy from the bench and the stands.”

Carrizales finished the game with 14 points, scoring 12 in the paint area. For the junior forward, she’s also built confidence in her ability to drive to the basket.

The pair lead a junior-heavy roster of Lady Jackets, but now feature three seniors. One in particular, a transfer from Mansfield Summit and the daughter of head football coach, A.J. Sheppard, Lily Sheppard joined the program earlier this year.

In 2024, Sheppard earned the District 8-5A Newcomer of the Year with the Lady Jaguars, who went undefeated in district play and reached the area round.

“She understands what it takes,” said Hill on what Sheppard brings to Cleburne.

When asked what she’s brought to the team on the court, Sheppard said it’s communication and encouragement of the little things, such as boxing out, rebounds and following shots.

“I know what my role is on this team and how I can help them,” Sheppard said. “Knowing how they play and adding my way to where it all meshes together has been a really good thing this season.”

Playing more guard the past two seasons, Hill has moved Sheppard to a much different role for the Lady Jackets.

Now, the dynamic hybrid will play mostly in the post while utilizing her guard abilities when needed.

A go-to for Cleburne’s offense in the first 12 games has inked the name, ‘Biggie Lily.’

“That’s where the guards look inside and I go to work down low,” said Sheppard.

As her father has made the rounds around Texas with different coaching jobs, stretching from Mansfield, El Paso and now Cleburne, Sheppard nearly decided to stay at Summit for her senior year.

However, once she opened her mind and realized she could help the Lady Jackets expand on last year’s success, it made her want to join the team even more.

“She clicked right in,” said Carrizales on adding Sheppard. “She’s a leader who’s not afraid to speak up.”

Sheppard praised the effort made by the Lady Jackets in including her when she first arrived and credits Avah Marcozzi for encouraging her while both were sidelined by injuries earlier this year.

Cleburne is scheduled to play three more non-district games before beginning district play on Dec. 12. Coincidentally, they’ll open their district schedule against Sheppard’s former team.