Fort Worth Southwest Christian beats Dallas Christian for return trip to title game
The past two seasons Fort Worth Southwest Christian and Dallas Christian have faced off in the girls TAPPS Class 5A state semifinals.
And both times the games were nail biters.
After winning by two points a year ago, No. 1 Southwest Christian rode the strength of a 26-8 run starting late in the second quarter until early in the fourth period as the Eagles held off No. 2 Dallas Christian 58-50 Tuesday night at Grace Prep Academy.
Southwest Christian (24-1) will make its second consecutive trip to the state title game and will have a rematch against No. 4 Houston Second Baptist (19-7) at 6 p.m. Friday at College Station High School. Second Baptist defeated Boerne Geneva, 65-50, in the other semifinal on Tuesday.
The Eagles went 2-19 in 2018-19 before coach Larry Menendez, Jr. took over the program a year ago, winning state, 73-63, over Second Baptist to finish with a 26-7 mark.
SCS led 5-0 out of the gate on a basket by Dayton Flowers and a three-pointer from Ariele Rosborough, both off assists from Ariele’s twin sister Arieona.
Dallas Christian (18-8) battled back and led twice by five late in the first half. Maddie Perkins’ two made free throws gave the Chargers a 22-17 lead with 1:31 left in the second quarter, but the Eagles responded.
A steal and three-point play by Arieona Rosborough cut the Chargers’ lead to 22-21 at the half, but the rally was just the beginning of what was to come.
SCS could do little wrong in the third quarter begging the question of what was said to Menendez’s team at halftime.
“All I did was to let my three seniors take the floor in the locker room,” said Menendez. “I let them talk to everybody. They talked it out and came out and played.”
“I told my team that whoever won the third quarter is going to win the rest of the game,” added senior Arieona Rosborough, who led the Eagles with 17 points, five assists, four steals and 11 rebounds. “I also told them that when we come out in the second half to make them call the first timeout. And that’s what we did. We got steals and hit shots that we shouldn’t have hit. We made corrections on defense and told them what they needed to do on offense.”
Arieona scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half. Ariele Rosborough, also a senior, finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Dayton Flowers, the third senior on Menendez’s squad, finished with 11 points.
Southwest Christian freshman Teagan Milliken played a huge role in the game. With starter Emily Doane in early foul trouble, Milliken came off the bench after the intermission to contribute seven big points, benefiting twice from stellar assists from each of the Rosborough sisters, and four rebounds.
“Emily was in foul trouble and last year we won this game in the last 13 seconds by two,” said Menendez, “I didn’t want any of my players to foul out of the game tonight. Since Teagan was playing so well then there was no need to disturb that. She was putting up shots and playing with no fear...that freshman is our sixth man for a reason.”
Dallas Christian cut the lead to four points, 50-46, with 2:30 left on a put back by Caitlynn Jordan, who led the Chargers with 11 rebounds and pitched in seven points.
But the Eagles refused to let DC get any closer. Arieona Rosborough punctuated the win with a lay in at the buzzer.
Sophomore Kennedy Chappell was a thorn in the side of Southwest Christian all night. Chappell led the Chargers with a game-high 24 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and had five rebounds and four steals.
Perkins added 15 points for Dallas Christian. The Chargers’ only senior, Jenna Rasbury, had one point, but contributed six steals and five assists.
“Dallas Christian is young and they are very talented and coach Calvin (Miles) is a great coach,” said Menendez. “He had a great game plan that he came out with and they executed well. I just think that we dug down a little deeper and we went at it, but that’s a great team.”
This story was originally published March 9, 2021 at 11:05 PM.