Bench powers South Grand Prairie past Arlington Martin boys

By Travis L. Brown

Special to the Star-Telegram

While South Grand Prairie’s starting lineup did plenty to stay even with Arlington Martin, and the SGP bench eventually pushed them over the Warriors 56-28 Friday in the Class 5A Region I semifinals.

Reserves Dante James and D.J. Thorpe rained 3-pointers in the second half, extending SGP’s 24-15 halftime lead to a rout of Martin at Wilkerson-Grines Activity Center.

South Grand Prairie coach Brandon Bennett said that days earlier, his bench players zeroed in on their roles.

“You never know when your opportunity is going to come and when it comes you’ve got to make sure you’re ready,” Bennett said. “That’s one of our mottoes — prepare to win. If you prepare every day and you’re ready, good things happen.”

SGP (35-3) controlled the first three minutes of the third quarter, during which James and Thorpe both hit shots from long range.

Thorpe drilled another from behind the arc later in the third, and James added his second 3 of the game in the fourth quarter.

“I just try to come in and make sure I’m focused in, and if I’m open I get a bucket,” James said.

SGP starter Ben Emelogu had a game-high 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the first half. Forward Cameron McGriff had only two points for SGP, which is also the Warriors, but he did so with a monster dunk in transition in the third quarter that gave SGP decisive momentum.

Kordell Eilts led Martin (28-8) with eight points, six on two 3-pointers.

Saturday’s 1 p.m. Region I final against Hebron at Wilkerson-Greines is the second in as many years for SGP, but far from the ultimate prize.

“We’ve been here before,” Bennett said. “It’s fun getting here, but we don’t want to just get here. We want to get to Austin. I told our guys, don’t get satisfied making it to our environment.”

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