Texas state girls basketball championships: Roundup of the UIL semifinals

The UIL Texas girls basketball championships are underway at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

FRIDAY’S SEMIFINALS

CLASS 2A

▪ Lipan 32, Martin’s Mill 31

In the closest game of the state semifinals so far, Lipan won a thriller over Martin’s Mill as the Indians held on in the final seconds to win. The win wasn’t secure until Martin’s Mill missed a jumper as time expired.

Martin’s Mill led 13-10 after the first quarter, Lipan led 19-15 at halftime and 28-26 after the third quarter.

Both teams had trouble scoring in the fourth quarter as Martin held a slim 5-4 edge in the final period. Lipan did not score in the final 2:25; Martin’s Mill did not score in the final 5:09.

Neither team shot well from the field. Lipan made 12 of 35 field goals for 35 percent and just 2 of 6 free throws for 33 percent; Martin’s Mill made just 13 of 39 field goals for 31 percent. The Mustangs did not attempt a free throw in the entire game.

Hannah Gaylor led the Indians with 10 points, while Mattie Dollar led the Mustangs with 11.

Lipan improved to 34-3; Martin’s Mill finished its season with a 31-7 record.

▪ Gruver 45, Hearne 32

Gruver built a steady lead, then scored the final eight points of the game en route to its semifinal win.

The Greyhound never trailed in the game and led 37-32 midway through the fourth quarter before going on an 8-0 run to end the game.

Brenna Butler’s 14 points paced the winners, while Kimber Whitehead added 11 and Allie Sparks netted 10.

Antinajah Jackson had 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Running Eagles, who finished the season with a 33-9 record.

Gruver Greynound (30-5) and Hearne (33-9) Running Eagles are playing in the other semifinal this morning.

CLASS 4A

Waco La Vega 50, Glen Rose 48

Scoring seven of the game’s final 11 points, La Vega hung on to beat Glen Rose and advance to Saturday’s finals.

It was just the second loss of the season for the Tigers, who finished the season 39-2. The Pirates improved to 37-5.

The game was tight throughout. Glen Rose led 15-12 after the first quarter, 26-24 at halftime and 35-34 after the third quarter.

Kiyleyah Parr led the Pirates with 23 points, making 9 or 22 field goals. She was the only double-figure scorer for the winners.

Aimee Flippen had 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Tigers, who also got 12 points from Grace Booth and 11 from Alexis Rynders.

▪ Sunnyvale 49, Boerne 47

Sunnyvalle made 10 pf 16 three-point field goals on its way to beating Boerne.

Micah Russell and Alli McAda combined for 42 points to lead the Raiders to the finals, handing the Greyhounds just their second loss of the season.

Russell scored a game-high 28 points, while McAda added 14 for Sunnyvalle which improved to 33-6 for the season. Russell had five three-point goals, McAda added three.

Jenna Ruede and Averi Aaron had 14 points each for Boerne.

CLASS 6A

▪ Northside Clark 49, Coppell 48

Natalie Huff’s three-point jumper with one second left lifted Northside Clark to a thrilling 49-48 win.

Coppell had taken a 48-46 lead with 13 seconds left on a free throw by Macey Mercer. However, Huff’s game-winning shot earned the Cougars (33-3) a trip to the finals.

Huff finished the game with 15 points, including three 3-point baskets. Arianna Roberson led the Cougars with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Julianna LeMendola led the with 16 points while Ella Spiller added 14 for Coppell which finished the season with a 38-4 record.

DeSoto 56, Pearland 35

The defending champion Eagles jumped to an early lead and coasted to a 21-point win.

DeSoto led 15-11 after the first quarter, 29-19 at halftime and 39-26 after three quarters.

Mylasia Smith scored a team-high 15 points for the Eagles (28-5) who had four players score nine or more points. Ma’Ryia Vincent had a team-high 10 rebounds.

RyLee Gray scored a team-high 12 points for the Oilers, who finished the season 35-4.

THURSDAY’S SEMIFINALS

CLASS 1A

▪ Huckabay 47, Mertzon Irion County 35

Huckabay used a 9-0 run midway through the third quarter to open up a close game on its way to beating Mertzon Irion County.

Huckabay led 23-21 with 7:47 remaining in the quarter. Back-to-back three-point goals by Rion Baccus and Seren Fowler, followed by a two-point goal by Baccus and a three-point goal by Chayni Chamberlain gave the Indians a 35-21 lead with 4:20 left in the period.

The Hornets led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, but Huckabay took the lead with a 16-8 edge in the second quarter for a 23-18 halftime edge.

Baccus led all scorers with 23 points, Chamberlain added 13 for the Indians. Melanie Rainey had a team-high 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Hornets.

Huckabay improved to 40-2, while Mertzon Irion County finishes the season 29-9.

▪ Nazareth 59, Neches 48

Nazareth used a big fourth quarter to advance to the 1A championship game.

The Swiftettes led 41-39 entering the final quarter, before using a 18-9 edge to claim the win.

Neches had just one field goal in the fourth quarter, none in the final 7:46.

Nazareth improved to 30-9 and will play Huckabay in the state 1A title game on Saturday.

Brooklyn Birkenfeld scored a game-high 21 points, while Brooklyn Dyer scored 12 for the winners. Joely Jenkins had a team-high 17 points for Neches.

CLASS 3A

▪ Fairfield 51, Winnsboro 43

Using a big fourth quarter, Fairfield rallied to a 51-43 win in the semifinals.

The Eagles trailed 32-31 after the third quarter, before outscoring Winnsboro 20-9 in the decisive period.

The Eagles overcame a huge game by the Rugged Red Raiders’ Faith Acker who scored a game-high 22 points off 10 of 18 shooting and also grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds.

Fairfield had a balanced scoring attack, led by Jimilyah Nash’s 13, McKinna Brackens’ 12 and Shadasia Brackens’ 10.

Fairfield improved to 39-2 and will play for the Class 3A title on Saturday; Winnsboro’s season ends with a 31-9 record.

▪ Holliday 59, Columbus 40

Jumping to a 21-5 lead first-quarter lead, the Holliday Eagles coasted into the Class 3A finals.

The Lady Eagles made 10 of 16 first-quarter field goals, while holding the Cardinal to just one of 10 from the field. Jayln Bristow scored nine points in the opining quarter and grabbed six rebounds.

She finished with a game-high 35 point, making 17 of 21 field goals. She also had 18 rebounds. No other Lady Eagle scored more than eight.

Karlee Mathis led the Cardinal with 11 points and Ally Tribe added 10.

Holliday improved to 33-3, while Columbus finished its season with a 31-5 record.

CLASS 5A

▪ Frisco Liberty 64, San Antonio Wagner 49

Keyera Roseby and Jacy Abii combined for 47 points to lead Frisco Liberty to the state title game.

Roseby scored a game-high 28 points on 10 of 19 shooting from the field and added 7 of 10 free throws. She also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Abii scored 19 points on 9 of 19 field goal attempts.

Wagner led 15-14 after the first quarter, but Frisco used a 12-6 second-quarter edge to lead 26-21 at halftime.

Sahvani Sancho led Wagner with 26 points. The Thunderbirds finished the season with a 28-5 record.

The Red Hawks improved to 28-10.

▪ Lubbock Cooper 70, Lamar Fulshear 52

Cooper scored 22 of the game’s final 26 points, snapping a tie at 48, and rolling into the state title game.

The game was close for three quarters. Cooper led 17-14 after the first quarter, 29-26 at halftime and 46-45 after the third quarter.

The score was tied at 48 early in the fourth quarter. Cooper then scored 14 straight points to build a 62-48 lead as the Fighting Pirates pulled away. They outscored the Chargers 24-7 in the final quarter.

Peyton North led Cooper with 31 points, Carisa Cortez added 14.

Kimora Lopez led Fulshear with 18. Jada Morgan added 11 but was in foul trouble much of the game, limiting her minutes. She fouled out in the fourth quarter.

SATURDAY’S FINALS

1A: Huckabay (40-2) vs. Nazareth (39-9), 8:30 a.m.;

3A: Fairfield (39-2) vs. Holliday (33-3), 10 a.m.

2A: Lipan (34-3) vs. Gruver (30-5), 1:30 p.m.

5A: Frisco Liberty (28-10) vs. Lubbock Cooper (31-6), 3 p.m.

4A: Waco La Vega (37-5) vs. Sunnyvale (33-6), 7 p.m.

6A: Northside Clark (33-3) and DeSoto (28-5), 8:30 p.m.

This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 9:55 AM.