AUSTIN — Freshman Lyndon Cook grabbed 26 rebounds and scored 20 points as Muenster defeated Grapeland 65-64 in a Class 1A Division I basketball semifinal on Thursday at the Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus.
The 6-foot-5 Cook had 15 rebounds as the Hornets built a 36-32 halftime lead. Muenster (28-2) outrebounded Grapeland 51-30. Muenster extended its lead to 10 points at the start of the fourth quarter before the Sandies staged a rally led by Patrick Walker, who scored 37 points.
Grapeland (33-5) pulled within 64-61 in the waning seconds before Cook hit a late free throw. Walker followed with a three-pointer at the buzzer to account for the final margin.
Cole Walterscheid added 18 points for Muenster while teammate Trevor Cheaney had 14 points.
Demetri Walker netted 10 points and had six rebounds for the Sandies.
Muenster advances to meet Mumford in the finals at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
William Whitehead and Jacolby Simpson also had six rebounds for the Sandies. Simpson added four steals.
In the second semifinal, LaKendric Hyson scored 25 points to lead high-scoring Mumford past Smyer 59-48.
Mumford entered the contest averaging more than 80 points a game in the playoffs but trailed 25-19 at the half as Smyer slowed the pace.
Mumford (38-1) came out in the second half playing man-to-man defense that resulted in nine steals. The Mustangs for the game forced 16 turnovers and had a 40-21 second-half scoring advantage.
Dion Mack scored 15 points for the Mustangs while teammate Aubrie King netted nine.
Brennan Fowler led Smyer (29-6) with 14 points while Luke Vedder scored 12 points.
No. 2 Laneville set to face No. 9 Miller Grove today in Class 1A Division II Semis
AUSTIN — It will be an East Texas matchup in Austin today as No. 2 Laneville takes on No. 9 Miller Grove in a Class 1A Division II basketball semifinal.
Tipoff is 7 p.m. at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas.
Laneville (32-6), appearing in its 10th Final Four, is seeking a return to the finals for the first time since going to back-to-back title games in 2007-2008. The Yellowjackets won it all in 2008 for their third state championship.
Laneville is coached by Tylerite Hosea Lee. His assistants are Josh Tremont and Victor Pena.
Miller Grove (27-9) is making its first state tournament appearance.
The winner advances to the final set for 7 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Water Valley (27-5) and Nazareth (24-12).
Laneville is led by three seniors —Donta Harris, Anthony Roberts and Kaun Alexander.
Four Yellowjackets average in double figures — 5-8 Harris (19.3), 6-0 sophomore Tralon Alexander (15.8), 6-2 junior Kendrick Anderson (14.6) and 6-5 junior Ty Johnson (11.6). Those four are starters along with 5-5 junior Tiarel Franklin, who is averaging 7.1 points.
Harris has made 122 3-pointers, while Tra Alexander has swished 56.
Johnson is tops in rebounds (9.6), followed closely by Anderson (9.1).
Others receiving valuable minutes off the bench for the Yellowjackets are 5-10 Roberts, 5-6 freshman Ladarius Arnett, 5-9 freshman Ladarius Lewis, 5-5 Kaun Alexander and 5-7 freshman Jakavion Polk.
The Hornets are led by 6-4 senior forward Patrick Covington, who averages 16.8 points and 8.0 rebounds. Others averaging in double figures are 6-0 junior guard Aaron Smith (13.4 ppg), 6-0 junior guard Logan Miller (12.1) and 6-0 senior guard Nathan George (10.5).
Miller Grove, which is near Cumby, is coached by Gary Billingsley. His assistants are Ana Billingsley and Kyle Smith.
The other semifinal has Water Valley (27-5) meeting Nazareth (24-12) at 1:30 p.m. today.
HOOP NOTES: Laneville and Miller Grove met in November with the Yellowjackets winning 68-61. … Laneville has appeared at the state tournament 1940, 1952, 1956, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2007, 2008, 2014). …The Yellowjackets were runners-up in 2007 and won titles in 1992, 1993 and 2008. … Laneville is 12 miles south of Henderson in south central Rusk County. … Miller Grove is 14 miles southwest of Sulphur Springs in southwestern Hopkins County.
Carr, Tatum back in Class 2A state semifinals
AUSTIN — Brett Carr knows his way to Austin.
The Tatum basketball coach is taking his Eagles to the state tournament for third time in 12 years.
This is a special trip as his son Casey is a senior on the squad.
The Eagles (34-4) earned the trip when Klifton Willis sank a runner off the glass at the buzzer to lift the Eagles to an 84-82 victory over Kountze in the Class 2A, Region III tournament final Saturday at William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches.
Four seniors on this year's team – Casey Carr, Willis, Donovan Centers and Jaylen Shans – suited up the last time Tatum advanced to Austin, but none of the four logged a single minute during the state tournament.
This time, they are all players in the rotation on a deep Eagle squad that will face Bushland (27-8) in the Class 2A semifinals at 10 a.m. Friday at the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas.
The other 2A semifinal has Aransas Pass (33-7) meeting Ponder (30-7) at 8:30 a.m. today.
The championship game is set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
2014 UIL Boys Basketball State Tournament
March 6-8
Frank Erwin Center, Austin
Thursday, March 6
Class 1A Division I Semifinals
Muenster 65, Grapeland 64
Mumford 59, Smyer 48
Muenster (27-2) vs. Grapeland (33-4), 8:30 a.m.
Mumford (37-1) vs. Smyer (29-5)
Class 3A Semifinals
Dallas Madison 77, San Antonio Houston 62
Houston Yates 86, Kennedale 79
Class 4A Semifinals
Dallas Kimball 60, Beaumont Central 56
Beaumont Central (31-4) vs. Dallas Kimball (23-7), 7 p.m.
Schertz Clemens (33-4) vs. Amarillo (27-5) (n)
Friday, March 7
Class 2A Semifinals
Aransas Pass (33-7) vs. Ponder (30-7), 8:30 a.m.
Tatum (34-4) vs. Bushland (27-8), 10 a.m.
Class 1A Division II Semifinals
Water Valley (27-5) vs. Nazareth (24-12), 1:30 p.m.
Laneville (32-6) vs. Cumby Miller Grove (27-9), 7 p.m.
Class 5A Semifinals
Galena Park North Shore (33-3) vs. DeSoto (31-3), 3 p.m.
Converse Judson (36-1) vs. Allen (27-8), 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 8
Class 1A Division I Final
Muenster (28-2) vs. Smyer (30-5), 8:30 a.m.
Class 3A Final
Dallas Madison (29-3) vs. Houston Yates (24-8), 10 a.m.
Class 2A Final
Aransas Pass-Ponder winner vs. Tatum-Bushland winner, 1:30 p.m.
Class 4A Final
Dallas Kimball (24-7) vs. Schertz Clemens-Amarillo winner, 3 p.m.
Class 1A Division II Final
Water Valley-Nazareth winner vs. Laneville-Cumby Miller Grove winner, 7 p.m.
Class 5A Final
Galena Park North Shore-DeSoto winner vs. Converse Judson-Allen winner, 8:30 p.m.
———
Class 1A Division I Semifinal
Muenster 65, Grapeland 64
Grapeland 19 13 9 23 — 64
Muenster 20 16 13 16 — 65
GRAPELAND — William Whitehead, 2; Jacolby Simpson, 7; Patrick Walker, 37; Jacques Faulk, 4; Demetri Walker, 10; Dominic DeCello, 2; Rodney Davis, 0; John McKnight, 2; Ricktavius Lomax, 0.
MUENSTER — Cole Walterscheid, 18; Lyndon Cook, 20; Trevor Cheaney, 14; Chance Herr, 2; Logan Cook, 6; Trey Anderle, 0; Blake Hoepfner, 5; Clint Sidwell, 0; Ryan Hoepfner, 0.
THREE POINT GOALS — G: Walker (7). M: B. Hoepfner.
ATT. — 6,341.
RECORDS — Grapeland 33-5, Muenster 28-2.
Class 1A Division I Semifinal
Mumford 59, Smyer 48
Smyer 10 15 12 11 — 48
Mumford 6 13 15 25 — 59
SMYER — Luke Vedder, 12; T.J. Escobedo, 6; Brennen Fowler, 14; Nicolas Lucero, 10; James Albus, 6.
MUMFORD — LaKendric Hyson, 25; Seth Smitherman, 5; Braxton Haynes, 5; Dion Mack, 15; Aubrie King, 9; Justin Shannon, 0.
THREE POINT GOALS — S: Albus (2). M: Mack, King.
ATT. — 6,341.
RECORDS — Smyer 29-6; Mumford 38-1.
Class 3A Semifinal
Dallas Madison 77, San Antonio Houston 62
SA Houston 14 17 20 11 — 62
Madison 23 21 15 18 — 77
HOUSTON — Robert Christian, 12; Devin Allen, 8; Jordon Harris, 29; Raymonte Prime, 3; Jawon Anderson, 10.
MADISON — Roderick Johnson, 4; Johnathan Turner, 23; Cameron Bryant, 19; Admon Gilder, 29; Le'Braun Armstrong, 0; Brandon Stanton, 2.
THREE POINT GOALS — H: Harris (5), Anderson. M: Gilder (2).
ATT. — 8,302.
RECORDS — San Antonio Houston 27-10; Dallas Madison 29-3.
Class 3A Semifinal
Houston Yates 86, Kennedale 79
Hou. Yates 23 27 14 22 — 86
Kennedale 19 19 19 22 — 79
YATES — Melvin Swift, 6; JC Washington, 19; Milton Jackson, 5; Damion Lewis, 22; Lorenzo Phillips, 9; Brandon Hayes, 2; Deandre Beasley, 0; Davion Houston, 5; Jacob Young, 17; Marcus Edwards, 1; Cordell Hankerson, 0.
KENNEDALE — Aundre Jackson, 21; Colton Otts, 0; Kelon Doss, 13; VJ Hughes, 16; Ty Charles, 21; Trystan Carr, 2; Brandon Conwright, 6; Dominique Doss, 0; Kole Hohenberger, 0;
THREE POINT GOALS — Y: Phillips (3), Lewis. K: Conwright.
ATT. — 8,302.
RECORDS — Houston Yates 24-8; Kennedale 38-1.
Class 4A Semifinal
Dallas Kimball 60, Beaumont Central 56
Dal. Kimball 21 22 11 6 — 60
Beau. Central 18 18 11 9 — 56
KIMBALL — D'Angelo Allen, 11; Trenton Brinkley, 4; Jawun Evans, 23; Dondre Carter, 11; Derias Johnson, 0; Anthony Thomas, 0; Xavier Johnson, 11.
CENTRAL — E'Torrion Wilridge, 8; Andre Morris, 10; Jacory Guillory, 2; Nijal Pearson, 23; Michael Jacquet, 3; Tyrin Atwood, 4; Garrison Mitchell, 4; Andrew Wells, 2; Gary Senigar, 0.
THREE POINT GOALS — K: Carter (3), Evans. C: Pearson, Jacquet.
ATT. — 9,194.
RECORDS — Dallas Kimball 24-7; Beaumont Central 31-5.