Timberview boys return to state tournament after narrow win over Burleson Centennial
As the old adage goes, it’s hard to beat the same team three times in a season.
Burleson Centennial swept Mansfield Timberview in the regular season, but its path to its first trip to state had to go through District 5-5A rival and the defending state champion Wolves in the Class 5A Region I final.
Timberview had a lot of juice on Saturday, not because it was the Spartans, but more so with a trip to San Antonio on the line.
In a tightly-contested game, Chendall Weaver’s tip-in with eight seconds left pushed the Wolves past the Spartans, 64-62 in Snyder.
It’s the third trip to the UIL state tournament in the past four years for Timberview (29-8). The Wolves also won in 2017.
“We ended strong, rebounded hard and got layups in transition,” Timberview coach Duane Gregory said. “These guys find a way. They trust each other and believe in each other. They’re a fun group to coach.”
Centennial (32-7) had a final chance to tie or take the lead, but its shot attempt was blocked as the buzzer sounded.
“They made the plays and had great energy and grit,” Gregory said.
Timberview will play Thursday night at San Antonio’s Alamodome. The Class 5A state semifinals are set for 7 and 8:30 p.m. The other three qualifiers are Lancaster, Missouri City Hightower and San Antonio Wagner, which Timberview beat in last year’s 5A state championship.
The schedule will be set on Sunday.
“I told them before the game that we didn’t have to play perfect,” Gregory said. “The two games against Centennial were close and games we could’ve won. They put doubt in Centennial’s mind today. We just had to play hard and smart and they came together and executed in key situations.”
The Spartans led 16-12 after the first quarter and 33-29 at the break, but the Wolves outscored them 22-10 in the third.
Joey Madimba was named regional tournament MVP after dropping a game-high-tying 26 points with three 3-pointers. Weaver, the brother of former McDonald’s All-American and Texas A&M guard Chennedy Carter, added 11.
Eyan Gooden and Jared Washington chipped in 12 apiece for the Wolves, who have won 14 of their last 15 games.
Washington was named to the all-tournament team.
“We graduated all five starters from last year. No one would’ve predicted this,” Gregory said. “We’ve really improved since the first game of the year. At one point, we were 2-2 in district. There was some doubt from the outsiders. The kids did a good job listening to the right voices.”
Centennial was led by 26 points from Tayton Conerway, who was all-tournament. Keryn Collins (13 points) and Jacob Stuckey (23 on Friday) also made the team.
