Timberview’s 2nd half comeback nullified by last second defeat in 5A state semifinal
For the past two weeks, Mansfield Timberview coach Kit Kyle Martin praised this year’s bunch.
No Chennedy Carter. No Taylah Thomas. No Lauryn Thompson.
No returning starters.
But the Lady Wolves beat all odds, defeated No. 1 and two-time defending state champ Amarillo just to get to the UIL state tournament on Thursday at the Alamodome.
Matched up with relatively new school and hometown San Antonio Veterans Memorial, the Class 5A state semifinals turned out to be a fight until the closing seconds.
There were 11 ties in the game and only three lead changes, but the last one was the most crucial.
Marley Rokas made one of two free-throw attempts to pull the Patriots within 44-43 with 47 seconds left. Her second try missed, but grabbed by teammate Breanna Perez.
Vivian Castro missed a 3-point try and Reinha Williams was there for the put-back with 26 seconds as Veterans Memorial hung on for the 45-44 victory and a spot in the championship game for the second time in just three years of existence.
“It was a huge disappointment. We didn’t take advantage of some opportunities we had,” Timberview coach Kit Kyle Martin said. “We fought to get back in it after a horrendous first half so I was proud of that. Not a lot of good decisions down the stretch and we didn’t hit shots.”
Timberview (31-9), No. 5 in the final 5A state rankings, trailed 28-20 at intermission, but the Lady Wolves inched their way back to cut the deficit to 36-34 after three quarters.
Desiree Wooten’s 3-point play and Jasmyne Brown’s layup cut the lead to three with 6:23 to go in the third. After the Pats went up five, a Nina Milliner layup made it a 32-31 game with 1:16 left in the period.
Brown’s layup tied the game at 36 in the fourth, but it was followed by a 3-pointer by Texas A&M commit Sahara Jones, who finished with a game-high 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Wooten and Jones traded baskets, but it wasn’t until Milliner hit consecutive layups that Timberview found its way in front 44-42 with 1:37 remaining in the contest.
Williams added eight points and 10 boards for the Patriots (32-7), No. 6 in the state. They outrebounded Timberview 41-27, despite losing the battle in turnovers, points off turnovers, steals and fast-break points.
“It was kind of the game we expected. You hold a team like that to 45 and that’s a good effort on our part,” Martin said. “We didn’t close out the first half strong, I wasn’t pleased with that. Took the lead late and just couldn’t hang on.”
Veterans Memorial will play Frisco Liberty in the 5A championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday. It lost to Argyle in the 2018 Class 4A final during its first official UIL varsity campaign.
Timberview, which made its fifth trip to state and third in four years, was led by Wooten’s 16 points. Brown added 12 and Milliner chipped in 10.
The Lady Wolves had reached the title game in their previous four appearances, with one championship in 2010.
“Heartbroken right now that we couldn’t finish it. It was a rough one tonight,” Martin said. “But it’s been a good run. We’ll handle this and prepare for another day.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 11:09 PM.
