Lipan denied undefeated championship season as Clarendon guard scores 41 points
Clarendon’s LaMarcus Penigar will go down in UIL state basketball history.
Lipan had a lead at halftime, but the Clarendon guard took over and got hot on his way to 41 points as the Indians fell short, 65-51, in the Class 2A state championship game on Saturday at the Alamdome.
Lipan won its first 39 games and ends the season 39-1.
“Proud of the guys. Obviously a tough loss and tough second half. That four to five minute stretch Clarendon had in the second half, they were rolling and there’s really nothing you can do,” Lipan coach Brent Gaylor said.
“2 is a great player. He just took over the game.”
The Indians were trying to be the 13th boys basketball team in UIL history to win at least 40 games and have an undefeated championship season.
Clarendon (31-2) wins back-to-back titles. The Broncos beat Lipan in the state semifinals last season.
“With a loss I can’t say anything that will make it better or make it hurt any less, but a month or so from now looking back on it, there will be some great memories for me,” Gaylor said. “There’s more than 1,000 schools playing in Texas and we’re one of 12 playing today. Any of those schools would trade places with us in a heartbeat.
“I love my team, love my guys and we could play Clarendon again 10 times and lose all 10 times, I’ll still go to battle with my guys every time.”
Penigar’s 41 points is the fourth most in a Class 2A state tournament game and first 40 point game in that class since 1964. It’s the first 40-point game in any class since South Garland’s Tyrese Maxey scored 46 in a 6A game in 2018.
Lipan led 28-25 in the third quarter when Clarendon and Penigar took the game over.
Penigar hit six three-pointers overall and five during a third-quarter stretch that saw Clarendon go on an 18-4 run. The Broncos turned that 28-25 deficit into a 45-33 lead at the end of the period.
A Tate Branson layup and Garrett Smith three sparked Lipan to an early 5-2 lead, but Clarendon led 10-9 after the first quarter. A 13-4 start to the second capped off with a Branson three-point play helped the Indians take a 22-14 lead with just under a minute left on the clock.
Lipan allowed just six points in the period and led Clarendon 24-16 at intermission after Reese Cook’s jumper beat the buzzer.
The Broncos’ first seven successful field goals in the third came from behind the three-point line and Lipan had no answer. The Indians got within eight points twice in the fourth quarter, but no closer as Clarendon finished off the win.
Penigar went 14 of 20 from the floor with eight boards and three assists and was voted state championship game MVP. The Broncos shot 51% as a team and went 8 of 16 from behind the three-point line.
Lipan, appearing at state for the fourth time in six seasons, was led by Branson’s 18 points. Branson grabbed three rebounds and had a game-high six assists. The Indians won 1A titles in 2017 and 2018.
Smith and Tripp Phillips chipped in 11 and 10 points for Lipan.
This story was originally published March 12, 2022 at 3:16 PM.