SAN ANTONIO, Texas— The 2018 UIL Texas Girls Basketball State Championship was on the main stage in the Lone Star State last weekend.  Six classifications crowned champions including one repeat and even more impressive…one program claiming a rare four-peat. Nazareth claimed 1A honors for the second year in a row and for the third time in the last four seasons.  In 4A, legendary coach Skip Townsend may have called it a career, but Chance Westmoreland and Argyle came back to take home the hardware for a fourth consecutive year.  Bragging rights in 2A were claimed by Martin’s Mill while 3A belonged to the Tigers from Mount Vernon.  Amarillo celebrated all the way back west as the 5A champions while Plano took 6A honors in one of the tournament’s most exciting games to wrap up all the action Saturday evening.

To see a stat synopsis of each of the 2018 championship contests as well images from each team, follow the link below to our earlier coverage.

https://bluestarmedia.org/2018-uil-texas-state-tournament/

Of course when you’re watching a tournament in a state that can proudly lay claim to a nation leading seven McDonald’s All-Americans in the 2018 class there are going to be some impressive players in the arena when all the marbles are on the line.  Making that point even more emphatically is the fact that not one of those seven were in the Alamodome last weekend as each come up short in their quest for the ultimate senior season send off.  Even nationally ranked Duncanville was denied a trip to the state tournament for only the second time since 2012.  Yes, you could say there was some talent on the floor in the Alamodome.  Here are a few of the players who finished the 2017 – 2018 season with some strong moments last week.

Ariel Adams – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – Denver City – Slightly built guard with great instincts…Plays with an awareness…Can create both shots and passes…Has the game of a “gym rat”…Gets to the rim…Handles physical defenders on penetration 

Charli Becker – 2019 – 5-6 – Guard – Kerrville Tivy – Smaller guard…Makes plays…Has stroke and range…Hesitation and crossover are there…Reads traffic…Understands gaps on defense 

Laila Blair – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Houston Wheatley – Physically strong guard…Sharp individual and ballskills…Explosive first step…Creates space with her stepback…Plenty of range…Needs to be more a factor without the ball…An assertive on ball defender

Jayla Brooks – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Garland Sachse – Point guard posessing extreme speed with the ball in her hands…Attacking mentality on the catch…Hesitation move is major league…Makes plays…Quick on the close out defensively 

Telisha Brown – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Houston Wheatley – Quick and athletic…Creates in the open floor…Change of speed and direction are there…Range and touch…Can develop her own opportunities…Quick and active defensively

Wilashia Burleson – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Temple – Strong guard…Plays physically with the ball in her hands…Lefty with sharp individual skills…First step is deceptive…Give and go…Consistency will be key for her 

Corina Carter – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Converse Judson – Dynamic guard…Tremendous ballskills create both shots and passes…Extraordinarily quick release makes contesting her shot difficult…Elevates well for size…Plays with emotion that occasionally gets in the way…Quick hands and feet on the ball defensively…Consistency will be essential for her moving forward

Zaria Collins – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Plano – Somewhat quiet but no less lethal threat…Nice size and strength…No hesitation in her game…Attacks on the catch and handles both traffic and contact…Tough match-up for any defender…Lots of skills, potential and possibilities 

Mollie Daniel – 2019 – 5-4 – Point Guard – Martin’s Mill – Pushes the ball from make, miss and turnover…Strong passing in transition…Small with a slight build but handles contact…Deceiving first step…Cuts hard without the ball…Weak hand will need to sharpen up 

Lolo Davenport – 2018 – 6-0 – Guard / Wing – Plano – Strong and explosive…Plays a college level physical game now…Has that combination of both size and skills…Relentless on the offensive boards…Plays with confidence…No reservations about mixing things up…Shot selection has some refinement needs…Makes plays…The one you want to play with and not against 

Keziah Dilworth – 2018 – 6-1 – Wing – Temple – Active…Plays with intensity…Has tools to work multiple positions…Accelerates with the ball……Form is there on the pull up from mid-range…Length and athleticism makes her a tough assignment for opponents and at the same time a strong defender at several spots…Should come into her own at the next level

Katie Ferrell – 2018 – 6-0 – Point Guard – Plano – Unique combination of skills, instincts and size…Makes reads and has a feeling for defenders as she attacks…Draws opponents and makes them pay…Looking to push at opportunity…Makes plays in the halfcourt as well as on the break…Feisty attitude with herself and the game…Active on the ball but a little relaxed on the weakside defensively 

Blakely Gerber – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing/Guard – Nazareth – Size and skills combo…Good length…Takes it into traffic confidently…Shot fake serves her well…Releases the ball high at the rim or off a floater…Works hard to be an option…Runs the floor…Strength will have to come

Makia Gonzales – 2020 – 5-11 – Forward – Hermleigh – Physical…Has some speed…Can put it on the floor to a degree but does overuse it at times…Has some tools 

Paige Granstaff – 2018 – 5-6 – Guard – Dodd City – Assertive guard…Makes plays…Strong ball skills…Sound form on her shot…Floater is there off penetration…Could be more active without the ball

Te’Aire Hambrick – 2018 – 5-7 – Guard – LaRue LaPoynor – Strong and aggressive with the ball in her hands…Looking to create her own looks…Can produce from the perimeter and off penetration…Ability is there to rebound from the guard spot…Needs to cut back on turnovers 

Rori Harmon – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Cypress Creek – Talented young guard…Speed and quickness with the ball…Skills allow her to develop and improve her options…Plenty of range and a quick release forcing tight closeouts from defenders…Step back creates plenty of separation…Gets her shot up in the air…Floater is there off the drive…Shot selection has its interesting moments…Major upside continues to grow

Tia Harvey – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Garland Sachse – Lean and athletic guard…Pushes from make, miss and turnover…Tools are there to improve her options or those of teammates…Works on the defensive end of the floor 

Cambrie Heiman – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing / Forward – Nazareth – Solid and strong…Willing to play physical…Decent size on the wing…Good awareness of the floor around her…Form is there on shot but base is narrow to a degree…Going to continue to advance her game

Alissa Hill – 2018 – 5-10 – Forward – Mount Vernon – Power forward…Works aggressively around the rim…Posts hard and holds her ground…Finished efficiently on the catch…Undersized to a degree…Plays with plenty of effort…Will mix it up down low 

Journie Hilliard – 2021 – 6-3 – Post – Dodd City – Young post…Has impressive size and frame for age…Will post aggressively…Has a presence on the glass…Agility is there…Somewhat mechanical but going to smooth out with experience

Kyndall Hunter – 2021 -5-7 – Guard – Cypress Creek – Strong individual skills…Crossover is lethal…Accelerates off her moves quickly…Plenty of speed with and without the ball…Makes plays in transition and halfcourt…Overdribbles at times…Assertive and active on ball defender

Mikayla Hutchinson – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Mansfield Timberview – Has some size…Fluid and mobile…Can develop her own options…Gets up and down the floor…Rises off the floor on her shot…Good body control…Needs to leave the last play behind

Destiny Jackson – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Mansfield Timberview – Lefty…Athletic guard…Acceleration with the ball…Fluid with and without…Slashes into defense…Catch and shoot…Lots of good things with potential for even more 

Sahara Jones – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – SA Veterans Memorial – Long with a lean and athletic build…Mobile and fluid in her movement on both ends of the floor…Has some perimeter tools…Can create her own looks…Slashes in traffic…Tools are there to get to the rim or pull up…Elevates on her shot making her tough to defend…Footspeed and wingspan make her potentially an impact defender in any scheme…Can’t allow the last play to affect the next

TyRaven Linwood – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing – Mount Vernon – Lean with length…Could grow more…Active with and without the ball…Can put it on the floor…Tools are there to get to the rim as well as pull up off the drive…Spots up with a good touch and range…Footspeed and length give her the potential to be an impact defender…Only going to continue to improve

Ceyenne Mass – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – SA Veterans Memorial – Athletic guard…Has speed and quickness but possesses plenty of strength as well…Hard to defend off the drive…Smooth and fluid…Can get to the rim but has a quick pull up as well…Pushes the ball…Assertive defender…Anticipates one pass away…Lots of promise 

Rhyle McKinney – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Argyle – Has some length…Potential is there physically for growth…Very active offensive threat…Can produce from the perimeter and off the drive…Navigates traffic once in the paint…Cuts hard…Leaner build but can handle contact…Lots of potential 

Jordyn Merritt – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – Plano – Continues to advance top tier game…Making herself a more versatile option…Perimeter looks are becoming higher percentage…Consistency and efficiency…More and more active without the ball to challenge defenders…Confidence is rising…Strength and physical play has to continue to advance

Ashlyn Milton – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing – Amarillo – Nice length on the wing…Leaner build…Works and cuts hard to make herself an option…Anticipates her looks…Has range and good release…Can get to the rim…May add some size…Plays hard defensively 

Danielle Nobles – 2020 – 5-10 – Forward – Marlin – Aggressive young forward…Strong presence on the boards…First step is there…Pushes her shot to a degree…Had some moments…Potential to evolve

Abbie Orrick – 2020 – 2020 – Guard – Martin’s Mill – Aggressive and active…Can put it on the floor and get to the rim…Doesn’t back down from physical play…Impressive on the glass from the perimeter…Defends with assertiveness…Makes herself a factor

Sydney Standifer – 2021 – 5-8 – Point Guard – Argyle – Skilled and advanced young point…Ballhandling and passing are exceptional…Reads and reacts off the drive…Understands the game…Always pushing…Plays with a maturity beyond her age…Added perimeter production will keep defenders honest…Plays with intensity…All the tools

Adhel Tac – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Garland Sachse – Long, lean and athletic…Impressive quickness for her size…Active without the ball…Always looking to make herself available…Can attack off one and two dribble drives…Understands what she’s looking for…Size and agility give her the tools to be an impact defensively full and halfcourt

Lauryn Thompson – 2018 – 6-0 – Forward – Mansfield Timberview – Solid size and frame…Has strength and uses it…Active posting and working for the ball…Reads on the catch…Gets on the glass…Quick outlets…Good interior passing 

Zayla Tinner – 2020 – 5-10 – Wing / Forward – Amarillo – Physically strong and cuts hard…Plays with an aggressiveness…Has some inside – out versatility…Looking to attack on the catch…First step is there…Can penetrate and pitch…Willing to mix it up defensively and hold her ground 

Kyra White – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Converse Judson – Effective guard with strong individual skills…Attacking mentality on the catch…Can get her shot off in traffic…Reads defenders off penetration…Could be more efficient without the ball in her hands…Tools are there to be a presence on defense

Mystique Womack – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Marlin – Quick and athletic…Plenty of speed both down floor and laterally…Strong and deceptive ballskills…Improves both shots and passing angles…Interior passing off the drive is sharp and effective…Quick release is there…Range is deep…Makes plays…Needs to be more active without the ball in her hands