2024 TAPPS Boys State Basketball 3A North Semi / Lubbock Christian School vs Bishop Gorman Tyler

WACO — The Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders, having one of their best seasons in team history, seemed poised to make its first TAPPS state title game appearance since 1990, holding a 43-32 lead over the defending state champion Lubbock Christian Eagles after three quarters.

Then a heartbreaking fourth period unfolded, as the Crusaders were outscored 26-4 in the final stanza, in falling 58-47 to the Eagles in the 3A semifinal Wednesday afternoon at University High School.

“We just could not handle their pressure defense in the fourth quarter,” said Bishop Gorman Head Coach Kevin Murray. “Our turnovers led to their getting easy baskets in transition. We just could not get anything going in that final period.”

Lubbock Christian (29-6), fueled by its full-court pressure defense, went on an 18-0 run to begin the fourth stanza, with Eagle senior Carson Farnsley scoring nine straight points during that span, and the Crusaders could never get untracked. Farnsley tallied 12 of his game-high 23 points in that decisive fourth quarter.

Bishop Gorman (30-5) sophomore Beau Bender sank one of two free throws with 1:59 left in the fourth period for the Crusaders first points of the period, that left the team with a 50-44 deficit. But the Crusaders would not get any closer.

Junior Evan Thibodeaux drained a 3-pointer — one of 10 treys the Crusaders nailed in the game — with 1:12 left, which turned out to be the only other points the Crusaders would manage in the fourth quarter aside from the one made free throw. Thibodeaux was also fouled on the play, but missed the free throw, as Bishop Gorman was just one of seven from the charity stripe — and just three of 13 for the game — in the fourth quarter, adding to its offensive woes in the period.

“We’ve been a good-shooting team from the three-point area all season,” noted Murray. “But those turnovers in the final period prevented us from even getting any shots.”

Bender, who finished with a team-high 17 points, knocked in a pair of early 3-pointers, after junior Ryan Richbourg opened the contest with one of his own, as Bishop Gorman forged an 11-8 first-quarter lead.

Then Lubbock Christian ramped up its pressure defense, closing the period on a 10-2 streak that left Bishop Gorman with an 18-13 deficit heading to the second quarter.

The Crusaders offense came alive in the second quarter. Thibodeaux, Bender and Ryan Richbourg hit three-pointers, as Bishop Gorman took a 27-24 lead at intermission.

A trio of three-point baskets — one by Bender and a pair from Freshman Eli Coppock — continued Bishop Gorman’s stellar play in the third period, with the Crusaders outscoring the Eagles 16-8, to stretch that lead to 43-32 heading to the final quarter.

Coppock had a school record-tying 11 three-pointers in a game earlier this season.

Despite the tough loss, Coach Murray was proud of what his squad accomplished this season. “This is such a great group of guys,” said Murray, who characterized his team as being “unselfish”.

“They play for each other. They show up. They play hard. That is all a Coach can ask for.”

Bishop Gorman was riding a 13-game win streak entering the state tournament.

The Crusaders had defeated district foe Lucas Christian Academy 43-36 in the Regional, after ousting Fort Worth Covenant Classical, 56-48, in the Area round.

No. 4 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches final TAPPS 3A rankings, Bishop Gorman was making its fourth overall TAPPS state tourney appearance, and first since 2019 when lost in the semifinals.

The Crusaders advanced to the title game in both 1989 and 1990, and ironically, fell to Lubbock Christian on both occasions. They were in the state finals in 1983 and 1984 in TCIL.

Lubbock Christian (29-6) continued its stellar play, winning its 17th straight game, and rolled in two playoff wins. The Eagles rolled past Dallas Yavneh 60-32 in the Regional after trouncing Dallas Lakehill 85-25 in the Area round.

The Eagles were just as dominant in District 1 play, with an unblemished 14-0 record. Two of those district wins were by 14 points each, and the other 12 victories by a whopping 31 points or more in each game.

Lubbock Christian, No. 2 in the final TABC TAPPS 3A poll, seeks its fifth TAPPS championship in eight overall state tourney appearances. The Eagles will play in the final at 6 p.m. Thursday at Robinson High School.