Brock girls rally past Grandview for state berth
District 11-3A foes Brock and Grandview had split two close games already this season and the girls Class 3A Region II basketball championship game was no different.
Battling back from an early deficit, Brock prevailed 41-30 on Saturday at Rockwall-Heath High School and earned the Eagles a 21st UIL state tournament appearance.
Grandview (26-9) charged out to a 12-0 lead on a three-point play, a 3-pointer by Jade Rochelle, and two 3s from Carrie Sullivan. Trisha Jacobs, who led all scorers with 16 points, finally stopped the onslaught for Brock (33-4) with a 3-pointer of her own with 4:04 left in the first quarter.
“We hadn’t been down 12-0 many times this year,” Brock coach Chance Westmoreland said. “The key was that they finally locked in on defense.”
The Zebras shot 60 percent (6 of 10) in the first quarter, but 14 percent the rest of the way (4 of 28), including missing all nine shots in a scoreless second quarter.
Brock pulled away with 21 fourth-quarter points.
Rachel Harrell, a Sam Houston State signee, opened the final quarter hitting a 3-pointer that gave Brock its first lead of the game, 23-22. That started a 17-3 run for the Eagles that gave them a lead Grandview wouldn’t overcome.
Harrell scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter. Jacobs hit 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch and added six rebounds and two assists for the Eagles.
“Rachel [Harrell] and Allie [Popeck] wanted the ball in the fourth quarter, and Trisha Jacobs really gave us a spark,” Westmoreland said. “Our whole team made contributions. Lindy Drillette came in and hit a big 3 in the fourth, and Taylor Hayes’ defense today was outstanding.”
We won it when I was a freshman, but I didn’t play very much, and we lost my sophomore year, so this is very exciting and I’m very proud of my team.
Brock’s Rachel Harrell
who scored eight points, all in the fourth quarterBrock has reached the state title game 13 times, including 10 times since 2000, when they have won all eight of their state championships.
Rochelle led Grandview with 11 points and eight rebounds. Sullivan and Kennedy Jentsch had nine points each for the Zebras.
“It feels amazing,” said Harrell of going to San Antonio. “We won it when I was a freshman, but I didn’t play very much, and we lost my sophomore year, so this is very exciting and I’m very proud of my team.”
This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 8:01 PM with the headline "Brock girls rally past Grandview for state berth."