Martin’s Mill’s Kara Nixon puts up a shot as Goldthwaite’s Hope Hermesmeyer (24) defends during Friday’s Class 2A state girls basketball tournament semifinal at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The Martin’s Mill Lady Mustangs have won six state basketball championships.

They go for No. 7 on Saturday when Martin’s Mill (35-5) takes on the Nocona Indians (35-3) in the Class 2A girls basketball state tournament championship at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The Lady Mustangs will be appearing in their 12th state final. This is their 18th state tournament appearance.

This is Nocona’s second state tourney appearance, the Indians’ first since 1953. This is also Nocona’s first time to be in the finals.

Both teams captured wins on Friday in the state semifinals — No. 4 Martin’s Mill 54-43 over No. 8 Goldthwaite and No. 9 Nocona 44-42 over No. 10 Wellington.

After leading 25-23 at halftime, the Lady Mustangs outscored the Lady Eagles, 16-9, in the third period to provide a little breathing space as they took a 41-32 lead into the final quarter.

Three Lady Mustangs scored in double digits, led by Kara Nixon with 18 points along with four assists and four steals. Kate Lindsey, who hit a state record 15 3-pointers earlier this season, added 13 points including four treys. Alli Vaughan pitched in 12 points and led in rebounds with eight.

Also scoring for MM were Ruthie Mein (7) and McKenna Wise (4). Braleigh Whitus, Whitney Moss and Brilen Butcher also saw action.

Other rebounds were by Mein (6), Wise (6), Lindsey (4), Nixon (3), Whitus (1) and Butcher (1). Mein added three assists and a steal. Lindsey had two steals.

Hope Hermesmeyer led the Lady Eagles with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Also scoring for Goldthwaite were Addisyn Howard (10), Lainey Jernigan (9), Lanna Gore (2) and Jemma Williams (2).

The Mill was 9 of 15 from the free throw line and 5 of 19 from 3-point (Lindsey, 4; Mein, 1).

The Lady Eagles were 12 of 15 at the free throw line and 7 of 22 from 3-point (Hermesmeyer, 4; Howard, 3).

Martin’s Mill scored 11 points off turnovers to two by Goldthwaite. For the game, MM had five turnovers to the Lady Eagles’ 13.

Also, the Lady Mustangs owned the paint, outscoring the Lady Eagles 28-10.

Members of the Martin’s Mill squad are 5-4 freshman guard Bea Valenzuela, 5-5 junior guard Braleigh Whitus, 5-7 senior guard Kate Lindsey, 5-7 sophomore forward Alli Vaughan, 5-10 junior forward Ruthie Mein, 5-6 junior guard Giselle Marin, 5-1 freshman guard Brilen Butcher, 5-8 sophomore forward Whitney Moss, 6-1 freshman center McKenna Wise, 5-5 freshman guard Eden Smith, and 5-10 freshman guard Kara Nixon.

The head coach of Martin’s Mill is Jay Bruce, and assistant coaches are Joanna Jenkins and Kendell Redd.

The support staff includes managers Paisleigh Whitus, Teely Salazar, Addy Granberry, Alaric Redd, Aiden Redd and Adalyne Bruce; and statisticians Brett Ramsey, Taylor Bruce, Cristy Redd and Chris Hightower.