High School: Girls basketball

video

The girls McDonald’s All-American game was won by an East team free throw, 79-78, with 0.3 seconds remaining in the game, a disappointing finish for the three Dallas-area players on the West squad.

However, the West wouldn’t have had a chance at the win if it hadn’t been for Dallas-area home school star Moriah Jefferson.

With just under a minute remaining in the game, Jefferson hit a 3-pointer from the corner to bring the West within two. The West would tie it up on two free throws, but wouldn’t be able to fend off the East in the end.

Jefferson, a UConn commit, finished with 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 19 minutes. She shot 4-for-11 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3-point range.

Irving MacArthur’s Alexis Jones had a decent showing, showcasing her ability as a distributor in her 21 minutes of playing time with three quality assists in transition. Jones, a Duke commit, netted nine points and grabbed three rebounds while going 4-for-16 and 1-for-5 from behind the arc.

DeSoto’s Jordan Jones (Texas A&M) saw 11 minutes of time on the court and scored three points, grabbed one rebound and dished out three assists.

"It still doesn't feel real," Jones said of playing in the game. "A couple of years ago I was just an average player. It'll all probably hit me in a couple of days when I show everybody all my stuff."

Future Baylor Bear Alexis Prince (Orlando, Fla.) took home the game MVP honors with a 15-point, nine-rebound effort in Chicago.

Chris Hansen of ESPN HoopGurlz contributed to this report.

Five area stars in tonight's McDonald's games

March, 28, 2012
Mar 28
1:14
PM CT
Five area basketball players will be in the national spotlight tonight at the McDonald's All-American games in Chicago.

Flower Mound Marcus' Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State) and Arlington Grace Prep's Isaiah Austin (Baylor) are on the West team of the boys game, which tips off at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and ESPN3.com.

Three area players are in the West team of the girls game, which starts at 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU and ESPN3.com: home-schooler Moriah Jefferson (Connecticut) of Glenn Heights, Irving MacArthur's Alexis Jones (Duke) and DeSoto's Jordan Jones (Texas A&M).

ESPN.com's recruiting and high school experts will be holding a live chat during the game.

DeSoto's Jordan Jones proves she has skills

March, 27, 2012
Mar 27
8:29
AM CT
video
DeSoto's Jordan Jones won the skills competition Monday night at the POWERADE Jam Fest in Chicago, part of the McDonald's All-American Game festivities.

Jones, a Texas A&M recruit, didn't just beat out the other girls in the event. She topped the score of the winner of the boys competition.

Find more here about the contest, which also included Irving MacArthur's Alexis Jones.

Marcus stands firm at No. 5 in ESPNHS FAB 50

March, 13, 2012
Mar 13
4:02
PM CT
Texas' basketball season is over, but parts of the country are still playing and ESPNHS is still updating the POWERADE FAB 50 national rankings.

The Flower Mound Marcus boys maintained their No. 5 position after winning their second consecutive state title. Only two teams ahead of Marcus, No. 2 Findlay Prep (Nev.) and No. 4 Chester (Pa.), haven't completed their seasons. Findlay Prep beat Marcus earlier in the year.

Prestonwood Christian remained at No. 12 and fellow TAPPS power Arlington Grace Prep moved up two spots to No. 22.

South Grand Prairie, which lost to Marcus in a regional final, bounced up three spots to No. 46.

In the girls FAB 50, Class 5A champion Duncanville moved up four spots to No. 7 two weeks after completing its season. Irving MacArthur held the No. 18 spot, Dallas Lincoln dropped two spots to No. 42 and Plano West slipped a spot to No. 44.

I-Mac's Jones wins second Gatorade state POY

March, 8, 2012
Mar 8
11:47
AM CT
Irving MacArthur's Alexis Jones has been named the Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

[+] Enlarge
Alexis Jones
Chris Hansen/ESPN.comIrving MacArthur's Alexis Jones is the returning Gatorade Texas Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The award, given in collaboration with ESPNHS, recognizes not only athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. Jones is now a finalist for Gatorade's national award.

The 5-foot-9 senior point guard averaged 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 4.8 steals in the 2011-12 season. She led MacArthur to a 35-3 mark and the Class 5A regional finals, where it lost to eventual state champion Duncanville in overtime.

Jones is a two-time returning All-American as named by ESPNHS. She averaged 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 5.0 steals as a junior, capturing the state title game's Most Valuable Player honor in leading MacArthur to the 2011 5A crown. She played for USA Basketball's 2010 women's U18 team and 2011 U19 world championship team.

In the classroom, Jones has maintained a B-plus average. In addition to volunteering locally for a food bank, the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of America, she has donated her time as part of a youth literacy campaign, a holiday gift-giving initiative and multiple youth basketball organizations.

Duncanville girls just outside top 10 in FAB 50

March, 6, 2012
Mar 6
12:48
PM CT
UIL Class 5A champion Duncanville edged up a spot to No. 11 in the latest ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50 girls basketball rankings.

The other area girls teams in the FAB 50, none of which reached the state tournament, held their ground from last week: No. 18 Irving MacArthur, No. 40 Dallas Lincoln and No. 43 Plano West.

In the boys FAB 50, two area teams gained ground after winning TAPPS championships. Prestonwood Christian moved up a spot to No. 12 after winning the TAPPS 5A title. TAPPS 4A champion Arlington Grace Prep gained four spots to reach No. 24.

Flower Mound Marcus, which reached this weekend's UIL Class 5A state tournament, stood firm at No. 5. South Grand Prairie slipped from No. 41 to No. 49 after losing to Marcus by one point in a regional final.

Prestonwood, Arl. Grace Prep win TAPPS titles

March, 4, 2012
Mar 4
6:27
PM CT
Houston Beren Acadamy wasn't the only TAPPS team of note playing for a basketball state championship over the weekend.

Plano Prestonwood Christian and Arlington Grace Prep, both nationally ranked, won their classifications Saturday.

Prestonwood, No. 13 in the latest ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50, beat Plano John Paul II 72-46 in the TAPPS 5A championship game.

In TAPPS 4A, Grace Prep, No. 28 in the FAB 50, took down No. 39 Houston Westbury Christian 77-57.

Fort Worth Calvary reached the TAPPS 3A final but lost 39-31 to Conroe The Woodlands Christian.

Dallas Ursuline was the only girls team from the area to win a title, edging Dallas Bishop Lynch 44-43 in the TAPPS 5A championship game.

Duncanville highlights all-state tourney team

March, 4, 2012
Mar 4
2:09
PM CT

Champion Duncanville took three of the five spots on the Class 5A girls basketball all-state tournament team.

Class 5A championship game MVP Empress Davenport was joined by fellow Pantherettes Morgan Bolton and Tasia Foman.

The Class 4A all-tourney team features two players each from champion Mansfield Summit and runner-up Rockwall. Class 4A championship game MVP Maya Hawkins and Jazzmin Jackson represent Summit on the team. Alyssa Lang and Paige Turner were honored from Rockwall.

Kynzie Newman and Presley Stastny of runner-up Celina made the 3A all-tourney team.

Here are the complete all-state tournament teams, as selected by the Texas Girls Coaches Association:

video

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Duncanville girls basketball team lived up to its coach’s expectations Saturday in the 5A state championship.

Duncanville jumped to a huge lead early and routed Spring Dekaney 69-31 for its seventh state title.

[+] Enlarge
Empress Davenport
Travis L. Brown for ESPNDallas.comEmpress Davenport was named MVP after piling up 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
“This team doesn’t worry me,” Duncanville coach Cathy Self-Morgan said. “They make the right choices and they’ll celebrate with character tonight and do right.”

Duncanville (40-1) began the game on a 19-1 run and ended the first quarter with a 24-3 lead over Dekaney (39-2), which was held without a field goal in the opening frame.

The second was no better for Dekaney, which saw its shooting percentage sit at 5.9 percent while Duncanville shot just over .500.

Dekaney simply couldn’t find an open shot against Duncanville’s inspired full-court man defense, which forced 14 turnovers in the first quarter, including seven off steals. For the game, Duncanville converted 22 Dekaney turnovers into 22 points.

“We played as a team from start to finish and we played with heart and didn’t want to give up, and we got it,” Duncanville guard Empress Davenport said.

Davenport was quick to say the final score surprised her, but she’ll definitely take the win and the state championship on the floor of her future home as a Texas Longhorn.

Davenport had 17 points, three rebounds and three assists and was named MVP, but the award could have gone to any number of Duncanville players.

UIL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Boys brackets: 5A »   4A »
Girls brackets: 5A »   4A »
State tournament: Girls » Boys »
Tasia Foman scored a game-high 21 points -- 18 of which came from 3-pointers -- and pulled down six rebounds. Morgan Bolton added 12 points, but she did most of her damage flying into the paint for seven rebounds despite her 5-foot-6 frame. Bolton also initiated the highlight of the game when she dished a behind-the-back pass to Davenport, who finished the layup and drew a foul.

“I think my whole team deserves a trophy because we played as a team and got it done,” Davenport said.

Duncanville increased its record for most 5A state titles with No. 7. However, this team did it differently than most of Self-Morgan’s past teams, which relied on tall post players to dominate the paint.

When the buzzer sounded at the Erwin Center on Saturday, this group of guards that turned into a coach’s dream completed a magical season in what amounted to an extraordinary way.

“I love this team," Self-Morgan said.
video

AUSTIN, Texas -- The remainder of Mansfield Summit guard Maya Hawkins' season was in jeopardy after she sustained a severe ankle sprain in January.

Hawkins missed three playoff games, but as Summit team continued to win she knew there was no way she could miss the state tournament.

[+] Enlarge
Mansfield Summit
Travis L. Brown/ESPNDallas.comMansfield Summit celebrates after defeating Rockwall to win the the 4A state championship.
Saturday, playing at about 90 percent, Hawkins gave an MVP-worthy performance in Summit's 45-42 win over Rockwall to claim the Clas 4A girls state title.

Hawkins scored a team-high 19 points and tied for the lead in rebounds with five. Hawkins also was a key factory in Summit’s suffocating defense in the fourth quarter.

“Tonight was by far the best she’s played in four playoff games,” Summit coach Tammy Lusinger said. “Her shot definitely came back after they wouldn’t even let her shoot a ball for four weeks.”

After making a third-quarter comeback on the shoulders of center Alyssa Lang, Rockwall kept the score tight for the majority of the fourth quarter.

Lang worked her way through Summit’s defense with spins and dribbles, forcing Summit to play an extremely tight man-to-man set -- a staple of Summit’s play all season.

“All 15 players on this team bust their hiney on defense and we commit to that year-round, it’s not just now,” Lusinger said. “They play and they play hard.”

Rockwall coach Jill McDill said Summit was one of the best defensive teams she’s ever faced.

“We just knew that defense wins games and we just told each other to make defensive stops, and that fired us up,” Hawkins said. “So when we set that goal to get a stop and we reached it, it just got everyone fired up and excited about it and it helped us on the offensive end.”

UIL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Boys brackets: 5A »   4A »
Girls brackets: 5A »   4A »
State tournament: Girls » Boys »
Lang still finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for Rockwall, but poor free throw shooting ultimately led to the demise of the Yellowjackets. Rockwall shot just 52.2 percent from the line (12-23), including just 37.5 percent in the second half. Rockwall missed three key free throws with under a minute to play and trailing by no more than two points.

“We haven’t shot very well from the free throw line this year at all,” McDill said. “Somehow we kind of escaped that in the playoffs.”

McDill, a girls state tournament veteran, has been on both sides of a state final. But for all Rockwall has overcome this year, from struggles in the regular season to dealing with injuries, she hopes her team views the weekend as a celebration of its own.

“I always stayed and watched the medals; watched someone celebrate and someone cry," McDill said. "It’s always better to be celebrating, but we’ll tell the girls it was great to be here.”
AUSTIN, Texas -- A hot shooting touch for Celina in the first half of Saturday's 3A girls state final couldn’t overcome a second-half push by Peyton Little and Abilene Wylie.

Kynzie NewmanTravis L Brown/ESPNDallas.comThe Abilene Wylie defense was able to contain Celina standout Kynzie Newman.
Wylie (36-5) took its second straight state championship with a 59-45 win over Celina at the Frank Erwin Center. It was Wylie’s third straight trip to the championship.

Celina (34-4) shot a scorching 52.9 percent in the first quarter. The Lady Cats put together one of the few runs in the first half in the middle of the second quarter, 6-0, but relinquished the lead before halftime.

Celina forward K.J. Stastny couldn’t convert on the first shot of a 1-and-1 with seconds left in the half and the score tied at 23. With 0.4 seconds remaining, Hailey Brown hit one of her free throws to give Wylie a 24-23 halftime lead.

It would be a sign of things to come in the second half for Celina.

Wylie lengthened its lead in the beginning of the half, putting together a 7-1 run after Little found her scoring touch. Wylie would improve on a 33.3 shooting percentage in the first half to shoot 50 percent in the second.

Celina couldn't keep up, falling to 33.3 percent in the second half.

Another 9-0 Wylie run, spanning from the end of the third into the fourth, would be the final blow needed for Wylie to capture another title.

Little, a Texas A&M signee, finished with 33 points and captured her second straight MVP award after setting the 3A championship game scoring record last year with 43 points.

Wylie head coach Tri Danley couldn’t help but gush over his four-year starter after the game.

“There’s very few players like Peyton,” Danley said. “We’re going to look back 10 years from now and I’ll thank God I got to coach her and these players will be thankful they got to play for her.”

Danley said he hopes to be able to follow up on his promise to let Little keep her uniform to honor her contributions to the Wylie program.

Right behind Little’s effort in scoring was Brown’s work guarding Celina’s offensive standout Kynzie Newman, who was held to just five points in the game.

UIL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Boys brackets: 5A »   4A »
Girls brackets: 5A »   4A »
State tournament: Girls » Boys »
“[Brown] was guarding me and she was pretty quick so it made it very difficult to get open,” Newman said.

Celina coach Jordan Davis tipped her cap to Wylie’s ability to hit shots in traffic. In the end, it was Wylie’s defense that proved to be stronger.

“Defense apparently wins championships and that’s what happened right there,” Davis said.
Check in throughout the day for updates on this year's state championship games from the Erwin Center in Austin. For in-game updates follow me on Twitter: @espn_tlbrown.

Class 1A Division I

Sudan 70, Martin's Mill 40
  • Sudan wins its second state championship in four seasons, with the last coming in 2009.
  • Danielle Logan led Sudan in scoring with a game-high 36 points.
  • Sudan shot 48 percent in the championship game.
Class 3A

Abilene Wylie 59, Celina 45

Class 2A

Brock 52, Poth 49
  • Brock wins its fourth straight state title and seventh since 2000.
  • TCU signee Kamy Cole led Brock in scoring with 19 and picked up a double-double with 10 rebounds. Ashley Fuller led Poth with 15.
Class 4A

Mansfield Summit 45, Rockwall 42

Class 1A Division II

Neches 60, Lipan 41
  • Neches claimed its third straight state title, advancing to a 34-5 record.
  • Roddricka Patton led Neches in scoring with 31 points.
  • Shauna Coleman was the team-high scorer for Lipan with 18.
Class 5A

Duncanville 69, Spring Dekaney 31
    AUSTIN, Texas -- Celina survived the long road to reach the 3A girls state championship game, but the toughest test still lies ahead.

    [+] Enlarge
    Peyton Little
    Travis L. Brown for ESPNDallas.comFour-star recruit Peyton Little and Abilene Wylie are looking for a second straight title.
    Celina will face defending state champion Abilene Wylie and the pride of their program, Peyton Little, on Saturday at 10 a.m.

    Wylie has reached the state final each of the past three years, losing to Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, 70-68 in 2010, and winning last year’s title over Lucas Lovejoy, 66-58.

    It was in last year's state final that Little, a Texas A&M signee, set the record for most points in a Class 3A championship game with 43. Little, a four-star recruit, is listed as the No. 29 high school player nationally by ESPN Hoopgurlz.

    And it’s Little that Celina will have to battle in the title game Saturday. That doesn’t just mean the talented scorer herself, but what she has meant to the Wylie program over the past four years and to her teammates in the locker room. Coach Tri Danley said this second state title wouldn’t be for the program as much as it will be to honor Little’s high school career.

    UIL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
    Boys brackets: 5A »   4A »
    Girls brackets: 5A »   4A »
    State tournament: Girls » Boys »
    “This is it for her," Danley said. "Those 12 girls in that locker room know that and they will go through that wall for her, and she’s going to do the same. That’s all I can ask them to do.”

    Little said she can’t imagine what the feeling will be like taking off the Wylie jersey for the last time, but if Wylie wins, she might not have to find out.

    “If she wins, we’re going to let her have [her jersey],” Danley said.
    AUSTIN, Texas -- Duncanville punched its ticket to the 5A state final thanks to stifling defense.

    The individual scoring stats meant little compared to the 23 turnovers the Duncanville girls' defense forced against Houston Cypress Falls in a 64-40 semifinal rout Friday in the state semifinals.

    [+] Enlarge
    Empress Davenport
    Travis L. Brown for ESPNDallas.comEmpress Davenport and Duncanville used a defense-first approach to take down Houston Cypress Falls.
    Duncanville (39-1) took control in the final 6:37 of the second quarter, going on a 21-2 run to take a 35-11 lead into the locker room against Cypress Falls (37-3).

    “Defense comes first and that’s what we focus on the most,” Pantherettes guard Empress Davenport said. “We play defense and the offense falls in place. That’s what we rely on.”

    Duncanville’s full-court, man defense pestered Cypress Falls all night, resulting in 13 steals and a shooting percentage against that just barely hit 30 percent.

    Davenport, Duncanville's top scorer, was surprisingly quiet, but she contributed a team-high six assists. It was the secondary scorers who stepped up and put on shooting clinic. Forward Ariel Atkins and guard Morgan Bolton scored a team-high 15 points apiece, with both scoring six points in the first quarter.

    Duncanville’s focus can be attributed to taking in the atmosphere of the Erwin Center Thursday night and a season full of team yoga sessions, coach Cathy Self-Morgan said.

    “The boys coach was doing it and so I thought we should try it and the girls thought it was hard, so I said, ‘Lets do it,’” Self-Morgan said with a laugh. “They didn’t’ like it, so I thought lets keep doing it.”

    Extra focus might have also been behind the rebounding surge Duncanville received from junior forward Kiara Perry, who finished with seven boards, including five in the first quarter.

    UIL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
    Boys brackets: 5A »   4A »
    Girls brackets: 5A »   4A »
    State tournament: Girls » Boys »
    “This girl is only 5-10 and had to go against 6-footers to get those boards,” Self Morgan said.

    The blowout was somewhat of a surprise. Duncanville beat Cypress Falls earlier in the year, but by a much smaller margin, 58-47.

    Regardless, Duncanville advances to the 5A state championship in its 21st appearance in the state tournament to face Spring Dekaney, a 50-35 winner over San Antonio Reagan. The title bout tips Saturday at 8:30 p.m. -- a date that has been circled in Duncanville’s calendar the entire season.

    “We all feel that we want it and nobody can take it from us,” Bolton said. “We’re going to fight until the end.”
    Check in throughout the day for updates on Friday's girls state semifinal action:

    Class 2A

    Brock 41, Tuscola Jim Ned 37
    • With a 34-5 record, Brock advances to the state final for the fourth straight year and is vying for a four-peat.
    • Brock guard Kamy Cole led her team in scoring with 20 points, followed by center Lexie Ducat with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
    • Jim Ned guard Meagan O'Dell scored 18 points.
    • Brock will face Poth in the 2A state final at 2 p.m. Saturday.
    Poth 81, Edgewood 55
    • Poth featured three players with double-digit scoring, led by guard Ashley Fuller's 25.
    • Edgewood managed two scorers with point totals over 10: guard Chandler Short with 16 and center Susan Ageson with 15.
    • With a 29-8 record, Poth advances to its first state final since 2008 when it lost 65-49 to Tuscola Jim Ned and will play Brock at 2 p.m. Saturday.
    Class 1A Division II

    Lipan 52, Whitharral 49
    • With a 34-3 record, Lipan advances to the 1A Division II state final at 7 p.m. Saturday to face the winner of the semifinal between Neches and Moulton.
    • Center Shauna Coleman led her team in scoring with 15 points. Center Taylor Moore led Whitharral with 13 points.
    Neches 64, Moulton 42
    • Neches advances to the Class 1A Division II state championship with a 33-5 record to face Lipan Saturday at 7 p.m.
    • Roddricka Patton lead her team in scoring with 15 points.
    Class 5A

    Duncanville 64, Houston Cypress Falls 40

    Spring Dekaney 50, San Antonio Reagan 35
    • Dekaney makes its first trip to the 5A state championship game in its first appearance in the state tournament, with a 40-1 record.
    • Guard Alexis Durley lead Dekaney in scoring with 13 points.
    • Dekaney faces Duncanville for the 5A title at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
    BACK TO TOP