Colleyville Covenant’s best season in 15 years falls short in TAPPS 4A state final
Offensive rebounds and a slow start doomed Colleyville Covenant a chance of winning its first boys basketball state championship since 2005.
Top-ranked The Woodlands Christian (TWC) outrebounded Covenant, 46-23, to pick up the 68-50 win in the TAPPS 4A state title game on Saturday at West High School.
It’s the second title for TWC in three years (2018) and sixth overall. The Warriors (30-7) were state runner-up to Arlington Grace Prep last year.
No. 3 Covenant (27-9) was making its first title game appearance since 2005 and third trip to the state tourney in five seasons.
“We didn’t play a team like that all year long with their length, quickness and athleticism. They’re very well-coached and play good defense. We like to penetrate and they kept us from doing that,” Covenant coach Steve Turner said. “We had difficulties getting quality shots in the first quarter and they jumped to a big lead and kind of maintained it.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to coach these young men. They’re very unselfish. No one cares who’s getting the points. They’re great kids and a lot of fun when they share the ball and play as a unit.”
TWC got out to a 9-0 start. Sophomore Austin Benigni drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to put the Warriors on top 7-0 and force a Covenant timeout.
The Warriors extended the run to 14-2 and 17-4 in the first quarter. They led 21-7 after one.
Covenant tried to keep the contest close. The Cougars scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to pull within 21-12 on a jumper from freshman Luke Stiefel and 3-pointer by Luke’s brother, senior Graham.
But TWC scored eight of the next 10 points to go up 15 with 3:59 left in the half. Benigni hit a basket with under a minute left to give the Warriors a 34-20 edge, which they took into halftime.
Graham Stiefel hit a shot just over a minute into the third that cut the score to 37-25. Covenant had a chance to trim the deficit to single digits on its next possession, but TWC forced a miss and the Warriors followed it with an 8-0 run.
TWC senior post, 6-foot-8 Tucker Nooe’s layup gave the Warriors a 20-point lead with 2:40 in the period.
The Cougars got as close as 13 when junior Austin Scheets took a Stiefel pass for a layup in the paint late in the fourth quarter.
Stiefel scored a team-high 15 points in his final high school game. He will play at Oklahoma Baptist next season. He added seven rebounds and three assists. Scheets chipped in 13 points.
“Graham is one of the best I’ve coached,” Turner said. “He came off the bench as a freshman and has been a 3-year starter. He was tremendous and I’m looking forward to seeing him in college.”
TWC was led by 21 points from senior Bakari LaStrap. Benigni added 19. The Warriors had four players with at least nine boards, including a game-high 13 from senior Luke Mansfield.
“Tough on the offensive boards and we couldn’t get any defensive rebounds and go on fast breaks,” Turner said. “They pounded the offensive glass and got second and third opportunities. I knew that coming in, but I had hoped we would’ve done a better job.”
Luke and Graham Stiefel, Scheets and sophomore Caleb Turner were named to the TAPPS 4A state all-tournament team.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 5:49 PM.
