By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
=========================
FORT WORTH – Keller Timber Creek opened up the 2025-26 girls basketball season with a 60-30 home win over Keller Fossil Ridge on Friday night. The Falcons started off 1-0, but it was more than that for head coach Tina DeMichele and the community.
The school recognized Ava Moore – calling the day “Ava Moore Day” and retired her #21 jersey. Moore was only 18 when she was killed during a hit and run involving a jet ski at Grapevine Lake during the Memorial Day weekend.
Several political and board members in the community were in attendance to help honor Moore and her family, which were also at the game – a game where the Falcons opened a 19-1 lead.
“The kids played with some extra motivation and our defense was spot on,” DeMichele said. “I couldn’t be happier with the first game.”
Moore played basketball and golf at Timber Creek, where she graduated in 2024. Moore was first-team all-district and academic all-district as a senior in 2024. The Falcons were 17-14. Moore also golfed and was Texas Association of Golf Coaches Academic All-State Honorable Mention and Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State second-team. Moore committed to the Air Force in the summer of 2023. She just returned home from 10 months at the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs.
“Our energy was up and we were fired up – we just like to run,” DeMichele said. “We stayed motivated and they played for Ava.
“Tons of ex-players, boys basketball players, kids were here – and that’s the kind of impression Ava made,” added DeMichele, who later stated that more than $4,500 was raised through shirts and donations. “It felt like a playoff game, the atmosphere was awesome. I truly believe Ava was here with us tonight.”
Last season, Timber Creek went 24-11 overall and 11-5 in District 4-6A. The Falcons reached the third round of the playoffs before losing to Plano East 65-47. Timber Creek is expected to contend for another playoff appearance in a district that involves Keller, Southlake Carroll, Keller Central, Byron Nelson, Eaton, Justin Northwest, LD Bell and Euless Trinity.
Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez was indicted in August. She fled the scene in May. According to NBC DFW in October, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office says there’s no plea deal offered for Gonzalez who is facing manslaughter charges. Following the incident, a photo of Gonzalez was posted and went viral on social media outlets in hopes of finding her. Gonzalez and one other person hit Moore on the lake while she was kayaking.
