Brook Hill

WACO — The Bullard Brook Hill Lady Guard girls basketball team was determined to make history this season.

Mission accomplished. The Lady Guard, following a TAPPS 5A 54-36 regional round triumph over Fort Worth All Saints, secured the program’s first-ever state tournament trip.

But the dream season came to a close following a 36-26 loss to the top-ranked Midland Christian School Lady Mustangs Thursday in the state semifinal game at University High School.

“If you had told me before the game that we would hold Midland Christian to 36 points, I would have taken that and felt we would win it,” said Brook Hill Head Coach Jereme Hubbard, who is in his fifth season guiding the program.

“Our defense was really good in this game,” said Coach Hubbard. “We just could not generate anything offensively, and give credit to Midland Christian’s defense.”

A two-point basket by junior Remy Tonroy and a pair of buckets from junior Zuzanna Majchrzak staked Brook Hill to an early 6-2 lead. However, Midland Christian’s pressure defense keyed a 12-0 spurt — 10 to close the opening period and another two-pointer to open the second stanza — and left Brook Hill with a 14-6 early second-period deficit.

Trailing 28-20 to begin the fourth period, both teams struggled offensive as neither team dented the scoreboard until Brook Hill junior Indeya Williams drained a 3-point basket with 2:36 left in the game. A Savannah Onley basket then sliced the deficit to 28-25. However, Midland Christian closed on an 8-1 streak to end the Lady Guard’s magical season.

Tonroy led Brook Hill (35-7) with eight points while Majchrzak scored seven to lead the Lady Guard. Williams, a Whitehouse transfer, added five while Onley and Mylee Booth each chipped in with three apiece.

Coach Hubbard noted that the loss does not damper what has been an amazing season. “So very proud of this team and what they accomplished,” he said. “The kids played with passion and enthusiasm.”

“We overcame a lot of adversity to have a tremendous season,” Hubbard continued. “Credit to all the hard work by the kids.”

Following a 12-5 start to the season, Brook Hill went 23-1 heading into the state tournament on a roll.

Senior guard Brenna Hill, the reigning District MVP who averaged 16.7 ppg and 3.0 steals as a junior, tore her ACL just days before the season-opener, forcing the standout to miss this season. Though she did appear in several games late in the season for a few seconds.

No. 4 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) TAPPS 5A/SPC 3A final rankings on February 17, Brook Hill, following a bi-district bye, defeated Lubbock Trinity Christian, 56-42, in the area round before eliminating Fort Worth All Saints in the regional.

Having moved up to 5A this season from 4A, the Lady Guard will carried a 22-game win streak into the Final Four.

The future is very bright for the Lady Guard program, which will return five of its top six players from this season. “We have a chance to be even better next season,” said Coach Hubbard. “And take the next step to get a championship.”

Midland Christian School (29-7) was led by Selah Fox and McKenzie Ramirez, who scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Jordan Stokes added nine and Jordy Hamilton added four. Midland Christian will face The Woodlands Legacy Prep Christian Academy (29-3) in Friday’s Girls 5A state title matchup at 1 p.m. at Robinson High School.