SAN ANTONIO, Texas– The 2015 UIL Girls’ Basketball State Tournament found itself a new venue and a new classification for bragging rights in the Lone Star State. Hosted in Austin from since its inception, San Antonio and the Alamodome was the new destination the state’s best had been shooting for all season. Six classifications saw their final four compete for bragging rights Thursday and Friday with the ensuing championship games filling the agenda Saturday. The University Interscholastic League has hosted Girls State Tournament competition since 1951 and 2015 marks the first year a champion was crowned in the newly designated 6A division. Day one saw the 1A, 3A and 5A teams go at it with the three remaining classes thinning their fields on Friday. Championship Saturday saw all the winners in each division do battle for annual bragging rights. Today we offer quick look at Saturday’s championship game results followed by evaluations of some of the top talent on hand. Follow the links below to the UIL website for brackets, results and stats as well as Blue Star Media for day one and two recaps.
UIL Brackets and Results
http://www.uiltexas.org/basketball/state-girls/brackets
Blue Star Media Day One
Blue Star Media Day Two
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/1161-texas-day-two
Texas Title Shots
1A – Nazareth 56 Lipan 40
Nazareth jumped out quickly to a nine point edge and never looked back. Lipan cut it to seven at the break but things didn’t improve in the second half as the lead was 12 after three and ultimately 16 when the final horn sounded. Sophomore guard Allie Shulte had 17 in the win while junior teammate Deborah VanDijk had a double – double of 11 points and 12 boards. Lipan junior standout Lanie Roberts was cold early posting just seven first half points but she found the distance in the second half finishing with 25. The win marks Nazareth’s 20th state title in 24 appearances.
2A – Martin’s Mill 49 Gruver 36
In a battle of cold shooting teams Martin’s Mill utilized some feisty defense to claim their fourth state crown by downing Gruver 49 – 36. It was 10 – 7 after the first period which had a 3:22 scoreless stretch with neither team putting up points. The Lady Mustangs extended their lead to seven at the half but both teams continued the frosty shooting combining for 23 percent between them for the first 16 minutes. Senior post Cheyenne Brown had 16 points for Martin’s Mill in the half. Gruver got some traction in the third closing to three with one period left. The fourth belonged to the Lady Mustangs as they pressured Gruver into multiple turnovers and rushed shots. The 19 – 9 quarter pushed the gap to 13 at the end. MVP Brown finished with 29 points on 7 of 13 from the floor and an impressive 15 for 16 at the line. Senior Reagan Haynes had 11 and junior Hadlee Spivey chipped in 10 for the Lady Hounds.
3A – Sunnyvale 52 Shallowater 37
Sunnyvale inched ahead by three in each of the first two periods to grab a six point edge on a persistent Shallowater team at the half. The Fillies were lucky to stay even that close shooting just 27 percent over the course over two quarters that saw six Sunnyvale players get on the scoreboard. The third period was decisive as the Raiders scored seven unanswered points to start the quarter and went on to stretch the lead to 15 entering the fourth. When the final horn sounded the margin was still the same and Sunnyvale claimed their first UIL State Championship. Four players were in double figures as the Raiders shot 50 percent from the floor in the win. Shallowater got 14 from Kelsee Smith in just their second loss of the season. Sunnyvale senior guard and Loyola of Chicago signee Grace Goodhart was named MVP.
4A – Argyle 46 Wylie 25
Argyle and Wylie both came out of the gate a bit slow and were searching to find their way with the Lady Eagles taking a 14 – 8 lead after one. While Argyle found their way Wylie struggled to get on track as the Bulldogs were on the short end of a 20 to 11 halftime count. Top tier sophomore Vivian Gray was the problem for Wylie as she posted 12 points on 6 of 11 shooting. It didn’t help that they also shot 20 percent from the floor themselves connecting on just 3 of 15 attempts. Things didn’t improve for them in the third and after eight more minutes they trailed 32 – 17 and saw their title hopes slipping away. Unfortunately the fourth quarter was a replay of the previous period as Argyle opened things up and claimed the 46 – 25 win and top honors among the states 4A schools. Gray was 9 for 16 finishing with 21 points and pulled 12 boards along with claiming Most Valuable Player honors. Senior Jesse Sheridan added 13 more in the win. Wylie ended up 8 of 33 for just 24 percent and was outrebounded for the game by 11.
5A – Canyon 48 Dallas Adams 41
In a game that had no one distinct moment or run Canyon methodically opened and held a lead to get past Dallas Adams and claim their 17th state championship by a 48 – 41 score. A three point Canyon lead after one grew to eight at the half. Angel Hayden had nine of her game high 16 over the first two quarters. Adams shot 35 percent and had nine turnovers before the intermission. A 12 all third quarter saw Canyon hold onto a 35 – 27 edge entering the final eight minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Cougars they would have to make a run without forward Jerice Fears who fouled out with just over 4:30 to play in the third. Each time the Eagles would threaten to put the game away Adams found a way to get the difference back under ten but just out of reach. When the clock ran out on them they were seven points shy of Canyon and their hopes of a state crown. Hayden was named MVP finishing with 16 as mentioned and nine rebounds from the point guard position. Senior guard Alexus Gilbert led the Cougars with 12 points on 5 of 11 shooting.
6A – Cypress Woods 57 Dallas Skyline 49
The highlight of championship day in any state tournament is when the big dogs take the floor and in Texas that’s now the 6A classification and the event’s last game. Cypress Woods and Dallas Skyline didn’t disappoint and delivered a back and forth battle that was well worth the wait. Out of the gate it looked like the Wildcats were going to run away with things as they took an 18 – 9 lead behind Erica Ogwumike’s 13 points. It wasn’t all good news however as 6-9 junior center Nancy Mulkey picked up two early fouls and was relegated to the bench for the large majority of the half. Skyline promptly opened the second period with an 8 – 0 run fueled by the play of Dai’Ja Thomas and the long range shooting of Jordan Alexander. When the smoke cleared the Lady Raiders had posted a 15 point turnaround taking a 28 – 24 lead into the break. Thomas had 14 points for Skyline while Alexander contributed a 3 of 4 effort from deep. Ogwumike finished the half with 16 and freshman forward Cate Reese added six more. Mulkey returned to start the third and with her back in the mix the Wildcats were off and running once again. They took the lead back at the 4:51 mark and would stretch it to ten before wrapping up the quarter on top by a 47 – 38 margin. Skyline made multiple runs in the fourth even closing to just two points with 1:44 left but Cy Woods survived the final assault and pushed the margin back to eight by the time the final buzzer sounded. Ogwumike, named MVP, was 9 for 17 from the floor including 3 for 5 from three point range finishing the game with 26. Reese added 10 points and nine rebounds while junior guard Jasmine Williams contributed 10 points of her own. Thomas led Skyline with a 24 and 13 double – double. The senior forward shot 7 for 11 from the floor and also made 10 out of 11 freethrows. Alexander finished with nine and Christalah Lyons offered up eight more.
Texas Talent
It’s not often a sophomore can lead a team to a state title. Canyon is a very talented and well coached squad but it took the play of sophomore Angel Hayden to put them over the top in San Antonio. The 5-7 point guard is confident beyond her years and has the ability to make plays both in the halfcourt and transition. The ability is there to navigate traffic and get deep in the paint. She can finish at the rim or offer up some sharp interior passing to improve her teammate’s options. As effective as she played she’s still a sophomore with some wrinkles to iron out. Her perimeter shot is a work in progress and will need refinement to keep defenders honest and closing out tight. There were moments as well that her decision making needed to be reined in but on the whole the success does speak for itself.
Dallas Skyline demonstrated that they had the talent and depth to play with anyone in the state. Senior forward Dai’Ja Thomas is the marquee player in the Lady Raider lineup. Wishfully listed as 6-3, she does fit the bill for the prototypical true #4 that is so hard to find. Add to that impressive physical strength, impressive speed and quickness plus an explosive vertical that lets her play at the rim. She’s strong down low and works equally well from the high post. There’s a lot of versatility in her game and if more consistency comes to her play she can accomplish whatever she chooses to as she moves on to SMU next year.
Sunnyvale enjoys plenty of options to call on offensively but their go to player and the attention getter from opposing defenses is Grace Goodhart. The senior guard has the both the skills and approach that coaches are finding harder and harder to find on the recruiting trail. At 5-8 she’s got solid speed and good strength that she uses effectively with and without the ball. The ballhandling is in place and she can create her own looks. Her step back creates plenty of space and the stroke is smooth and consistent. Goodhart is headed to Loyola of Chicago and should find a good fit for her game.
Sophomore Brianna Suber is barley scratching the surface of a mountain of potential. The 5-9 guard is explosive and she gets herself to the rim time and again. Her individual skills create both passes and shots and there’s lots of acceleration on the catch. Her hesitation move draws defenders out of their stance and she knows where the rim is. The toughest defense she faces right now is herself. Bad plays and bad calls distract her from what’s next. Her style of play is difficult to officiate and her perception of bad calls is often misplaced. She’s young and evolving; what’s to come should be very special.
Few players on hand in the Alamodome have a higher profile nationally than Lauren Cox. Recognized as one of the premier players in the 2016 class and with plenty of USA Basketball experience under her belt, Cox has a long basketball future in front of her. Limited to one game in San Antonio, the 6-4 post / forward had the “sweet and sour” experience Friday night. Sweet as in a triple – double of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. Sour in the sense that Flower Mound lost and that she shot just 38 percent from the floor. Cox is a special player with a deep skill set for a player her size and will be an impact player any night she steps on the floor…next season and beyond.
While Cox may have one of the more recognizable profiles, Wagner’s Amber Ramirez had one of the most notable halves in tournament history. The 5-8 junior guard had the eventual champs from Cypress Woods scratching their heads defensively as she made their first half a nightmare and her game a hot topic of halftime discussion. All she did was go 9 for 14 from the floor including 7 for 9 from three point range and post 25 points all by herself. Several of her long balls were off the dribble and set up by her ability to create space. She has a shooters mentality and a quick release which is fun to watch unless you’re in a stance in front of her. Ramirez, an Oklahoma State verbal commit, got just six more in their semifinal loss but the first 16 minutes left a lasting impression.
Junior guard Calveion Landrum from Waco La Vega is on track to have the whole package. At 5-10 she has the size and athleticism to fit in any backcourt including the one waiting for her at Baylor where she’s already committed. Her ball skills are sharp and the ability to utilize them is put to work time and again. The crossover is lethal and the acceleration with the ball leaves opponents behind time and again. She’s strong enough to handle physical defensive help but also can call on a high rise vertical to loft up a floater. Lots of footspeed is in place that serves her well on both ends of the floor. Situations still get under her skin at times and it’s obvious from the sidelines…as well in the eyes of opponents.
Day one and game one offered our first look at Lipan junior wing Lanie Roberts. With a little length to her build she’s 5-10 and very lean. Roberts can put the ball on the ground and slash to the rim or pull up from mid-range effectively. With time she can spot up from deeper on the perimeter though it is with a somewhat narrow base. She’s been well coached and has a sharp understanding of the game. The passing vision and skills are place and she has no hesitation about giving it up. Without the ball she’s active and does a great job of reading defenders off the cut. Roberts was called for several player control fouls off the drive and will need to be cautious with the commitment she makes on penetration.
Weimar’s stay in San Antonio was short lived and the exit hurt just a little more with an overtime loss to Gruver. A bright spot however was the flashes of play provided by junior guard Jazmine Kirby. With nice size at 5-10, she’s fluid and athletic with lots of speed. Plenty of individual skills are in place including a smooth usage of a change of speed. Her stroke and touch serve her well both off the pull up or spotted up on the perimeter. The left hand will need to become more reliable to keep defenders guessing and she’ll need to commit defensively on every possession. Very bright future.
Evaluators put plenty of stock in a player’s ability to continue to evolve and advance her game. Nobody likes to see a athlete’s skill growth stagnate. That’s one label nobody could ever apply to Cypress Woods 6-9 post Nancy Mulkey. The progression in her fundamental development and its application to her game is on par with any scholastic player in America. Each time out you see something that’s a little better or a little smoother than the last time you saw her in action. The biggest advancements apparent this weekend are simply the confidence she’s playing with and the fluidity that is coming more and more into every aspect of her game. There’s still lots of work to be done but her willingness to put in the time and repetitions should be an example to any high school or club player.
Dallas Skyline has some impressive size and strength on their roster. Some of their best play in two games at the state tournament came from a player at the back of the line in both categories. Christalah Lyons isn’t going to intimidate you or overwhelm you with her size. Listed at 5-5 (not so much) the senior point guard demonstrated that size doesn’t matter quite as much if they can’t find or catch you. Her 9 for 15 shooting included knocking down 3 for 5 from three point range and few of those shots were contested at all. She uses her speed with and without the ball and has a quick release to make you pay for a sloppy close out. That same speed serves her well defensively as she picked up seven steals over the course of two games.
While Brittany Brewer isn’t quite playing on the same level as Lauren Cox, it’s fair to compare the two physically because of their size and build. Brewer, from Wylie High School, has similar height and both have the wingspan of a condor. Brewer runs the floor well with deceiving speed for a big. She posts hard at times but could be more assertive in adjusting her post as the ball is swung to the top or reversed. On the catch she keeps it high but has a flat trajectory on it from most distances right now. As a junior Brewer is still evolving as evidenced by her 10 blocked shots over two games…countered by her 10 turnovers. Growing pains will be well worth it in the long run!
