Gruver, Muenster have eyes on 1st state championship after both surge in 2A semifinals

CLASS 2A STATE SEMIFINALS

Gruver 59, Grapeland 49

While most people were just trying to get up Friday morning, No. 3 Gruver and No. 4 Grapeland were wide awake.

Both teams played at a high level from the start, but Gruver (37-2) opened a 7-point lead at the half on its way to a 59-49 win in the Class 2A state semifinals at the Alamodome.

”I think that our girls knew what was at stake,” said Gruver coach Shannon Fisher on the early start of the state semifinal. “Playing for a state championship and going through adversity throughout the season helped prepare us for this.”

The Lady Hounds will be playing for their first state title in their third trip to the title game in as many appearances.

Both teams shot lights out in a back-and-forth first half with the Sandiettes hitting 40.9% and Gruver at an impressive 56%. The Lady Hounds finished 26 of 41 (63.4%) from the floor.

There were six lead changes and four ties to open the game, but a 9-0 run starting at the 3:45 mark of the second quarter gave the Lady Hounds some space.

Andi Salgado (19 points) and Bailey Maupin (15) fueled the surge with two baskets each including a three from Maupin. Gruver built its lead to as many as 22 with 3:43 left in the fourth quarter.

A basket by Camryn Armes gave the Lady Hounds a 59-37 lead.

Another run of 13 straight was led by Maddie McCloy, who finished with 14 points. Maupin and McCloy had eight rebounds each. Grapeland was led by by Kenya Woods, who finished with 15 points, and Jessie Payne’s 12. Payne hit 4 of 9 three-pointers.

Grapeland (34-6) was making its seventh trip to the state tournament. The Sandiettes reached the championship game in 1988, 1989 and last season with one title in ‘89.

Muenster 43, Mason 34

Muenster head coach Chris Hightower was asked Friday after the Lady Hornets beat the Cowgirls in the Class 2A state semifinals, “So maybe it’s time for folks to start talking about Muenster?”

“I would say so,” Hightower said with a smile.

The Lady Hornets (36-4) will play in its third state championship and look for its first title, just like Gruver. The two teams will meet up at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We sort of walked into the locker room and said ‘We’re playing for a state championship game tomorrow, it’s crazy,’ sophomore Martie McCoy said.

Defense got Muenster, which was at state for the first time since 2011, past Mason (33-5). After the two teams were knotted at 16 to end the opening period, the Lady Hornets held the Cowgirls to seven points on 3 of 17 shooting in the second and third quarters combined.

Muenster then found itself leading 32-23 entering the fourth.

“Two years ago, defense was our foundation,” Hightower said. “It’s what we hang our hats on.”

The Lady Hornets trailed 9-4 early on before an 8-0 run pushed them ahead 12-9. Sarah Monday and Annie Anderle knocked down 3-pointers and McCoy’s layup was assisted by Kaley Berkley.

Mason, at state for the third straight year, missed its first five shots of the second quarter before a McKenzie Cano jumper with nine seconds left made it 20-19 Muenster at the break.

Muenster outscored Mason 12-4 in the third quarter.

McCoy had a game-high 17 points with seven rebounds and two steals. Anderle added 10 points. The Lady Hornets forced 16 Mason turnovers and were plus-12 from the free-throw line.

The Cowgirls was led by Lauren Olson’s 14 points and 13 boards. Cano added 13 points and six boards.

The Lady Hornets won their school-record 36th game, breaking the record from the 1992-93 state runner-up team. This year alone, Muenster came in having beaten seven teams from 4A-1A that reached the regional tournament.

This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 10:54 AM.