MM Girls

LORENA — The top-ranked and reigning champion Martin’s Mill Lady Mustangs punched their ticket to the state title game after rolling to a 74-28 victory over the No. 16 Goldthwaite Lady Eagles, Tuesday evening in a Class 2A Division 2 girls basketball state semifinal at Lorena High School.

Martin’s Mill (34-2) advances to square off against the No. 3 Farwell Lady Steers (35-3) at 5 p.m. Thursday at the San Antonio Alamodome, seeking its second straight state crown and eighth title overall. Farwell ousted Lipan, 70-49, in the other state semifinal.

The Martin’s Mill stifling defense — Goldthwaite did not reach double digit scoring in any quarter — and the Lady Mustangs offense was at peak efficiency, in eliminating Goldthwaite for the second consecutive season in the state semifinals. Martin’s Mill claimed a 54-43 over the Lady Eagles a year ago that led to its state championship.

“Our defense has been the backbone of this team the entire season,” said Martin’s Mill head coach Jay Bruce, who is in his third year guiding the Martin’s Mill program. “Our defense tonight again set the tone and that generates points on the other end.”

“We did a great job executing our offense,” Coach Bruce continued. “We were in attack mode offensively and our kids did a great job.”

That offense was directed by sophomore sensation Kara Nixon, who recorded a team-high 16 points while dishing out 12 assists.

“Kara does such a great job in running our offense,” said Coach Bruce. “Such an incredible player. She affects the game how other teams play defense as well. And she did an excellent job again facilitating the offense tonight. Got everybody involved.”

Nixon, who also grabbed five rebounds and had one steal, said “everything came together for us” in the semifinal win … “Total team effort.”

Making key plays and coming through in the clutch has become a trademark for Nixon.

When Goldthwaite scored this game’s first points, which came almost three minutes into contest as both teams came out in a defense mindset, Nixon drained a 3-pointer for a 3-2 Martin’s Mill lead, one it never relinquished.

After an early 6-5 Martin’s Mill lead, Nixon drilled another trey and then a two-pointer that fueled a 20-0 Lady Mustangs explosion — 10-0 run to end the opening period and then a 10-0 spurt to begin the second stanza — to forge a 26-5 lead, and holding a 34-13 cushion at intermission.

Martin’s Mill continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring Goldthwaite 21-7 in the third and then 19-8 in the final quarter.

Junior Alli Vaughan and senior Ruthie Mein had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Martin’s Mill, which as a team connected on 13 three-point baskets in the victory and made 15 of 19 free throws.

Sophomore Brilen Buther nailed a trio of 3-pointers for nine points in the win, while McKenna Wise (another sophomore) also tallied nine points to go with 14 rebounds and four blocks.

Nixon beautifully executed several pick-and-roll baskets with Wise, and the dynamic duo operate in sync.

“We grew up together,” said Nixon, in praising her sophomore cohort Wise. “We do have a special connection on the court. She is like a sister to me.”

Senior Braleigh Whitus contributed seven points, while freshman Teely Salazar had four and senior Giselle Marin three to round out the Martin’s Mill scoring.

Goldthwaite (28-10) was led by sophomore Rylee Greenway, who finished with a team-leading 16 points. Sophomore Kenley Howard added 10 and senior Danika Marcius scored two, as just three Lady Eagles dented the scoring column.

This year’s championship matchup will be hard-pressed to equal 2024’s finish, as then-freshman Kara Nixon, with eight seconds remaining, took a baseline inbounds the length of the court and banked in a heavily contested shot off the glass as the buzzer sounded to give the Lady Mustangs its championship.

“I’m not trying to duplicate that,” said Nixon, of her last year’s title game heroics. “We just want to win back to back titles. Will mean a lot to the team, and I want it especially for our seniors. This is such a special group.”

In last year’s title thriller, Nixon’s 2-pointer with 1:40 left to pull the Lady Mustangs within one, 40-39, and then drilled in another trey with 16 ticks remaining that forged Martin’s Mill a 42-40 lead, its first since the second stanza. After Nocona tired the score with eight seconds left, Nixon navigated the full court to knock it the title-winner.

Martin’s Mill will be facing Farwell for just the second time ever on the hardwood, with the Lady Mustangs dropping a 55-51 overtime meeting in a December 2022 regular-season matchup.

Making its 19th Final Four appearance, Martin’s Mill will also be navigating different circumstances in approaching this year’s title matchup. UIL, for the first time, opted to hold its state semifinal games at neutral sites and then play all the finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio. In the past, the semis and finals were both held in the same venue.

“We will enjoy this one tonight, and then regroup and plan for Farwell,” said Coach Bruce. “They [Farwell] are an extremely talented team. They like to play fast tempo. We are excited for the challenge.”

The short turnaround also means different travel plans for the Lady Mustangs. “We are headed straight for San Antonio from here,” said Coach Bruce after winning the semifinal in Lorena Tuesday night. “We have our bags packed and ready to go.”

And ready for a shot at back-to-back state championships.