SOFTBALL: Brennan out-rallies Brackenridge in 28-4A thriller

Defending champ Bears score 7 in seventh for win

PLEASE RETURN TO THIS STORY TUESDAY FOR A LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER:

For five innings, neither of the top two teams in District 28-4A could find a way to get a run. Then chaos ensued.

A Brennan rally was topped by a Brackenridge rally, setting the stage for seventh-inning fireworks March 4 at Mary Ann Villarreal Field No. 1. The defending champion Bears (11-3, 2-0) exploded for seven runs in the final inning to record a 12-5 victory over Brackenridge (8-5-1, 0-1).

“Whenever it gets down to crunch time, we pull it out,” Brennan coach Ruby de la Garza said. “We need to jump on it quick and stay on it, as opposed to having to scratch and fight to win.”

Brennan had taken a 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth after Jolynn Ortiz and Gabby Acuna drew leadoff walks from Brackenridge ace Alexis Berlanga. Laikyn Modra followed with an RBI single on a misplayed drive to the outfield and Miranda Mueller drilled a two-run triple. An overthrow on the relay throw sent Mueller home for a 4-0 lead.

Neither team had gotten a runner past second base through five innings. Suddenly, the outcome appeared to be decided.

“I didn’t know if we could dig ourselves out,” Brackenridge coach Robyn Murken said. “But we did it, only to dig a deeper hole.”

Brackenridge took the lead with a rally that began in the bottom of the sixth inning when Miranda Sandoval drew a leadoff walk. Next up was Allie Castillo, who slapped a single through the left side of the infield. A bunt single from Jacklynn Nevarez loaded the bases for Lexus Lozano, who lifted a sacrifice fly that cut the Eagles deficit to 4-1.

Eagles catcher Jackie Rodriguez dropped a single into center field that brought home a second run. A triple to right-center field from Celeste Canales tied it 4-4.

“She hit it to the right spot,” Murken said of the two-RBI hit. “It was a low pitch, but she stayed on it and rapped it to right field. She went for it.”

Brackenridge took the lead when Alyssa Berlanga was safe on an error.

Brennan didn’t waste any time getting retaliation. They scored seven runs without making an out.

Lexi Yorkman was safe on a bunt to the pitcher’s circle, leading off the bottom of the seventh. Jacqui Aguirre also bunted and was safe on an overthrow at first base.

“If we would have executed and got those two outs on bunts, I really believe we would have ended it right there,” Murken said. “We let up and got caught off-guard.”

Winning pitcher Iliana Martinez loaded the bases by drawing a walk. Then Ortiz drove a grand-slam home run over the wall in straightaway left field. The blast instantly gave the Bears an 8-5 lead.

“Before the inning, I told the girls, ‘Don’t swing for the fence,’ ” de la Garza said. “But I talked to Jolynn and told her, ‘Just hit a fly ball.’ A sacrifice fly would have tied it up and put us back in the game, and we still would have had one out.”

Acuna and Modra followed with back-to-back doubles.

“She has a great team,” de la Garza said of Murken. “She always does. When we play Robin’s team, it’s always going to be a fight. You have to be prepared and everybody has to come together.”

Berlanga (8-6) didn’t give up a hit until Acuna led off the fourth with a single. Brandy Brown collected Brennan’s only other hit in the first five innings against the junior, who is in her second season as the Eagles’ ace.

“She’s throwing a lot better this year,” Murken said. “She just goes right at (batters). She doesn’t let things get her down.”

Before Brackenridge’s big inning, the Eagles only hit came from Lozano in the fourth, after Nevarez was safe on an error. Brennan escaped the one-out threat when Modra grabbed a line drive at shortstop and threw to second for a double play.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Sam Houston’s Cinderella run ends in Class 3A semis

Hurricanes within six late in third, but Madison dominates final quarter

Sam Houston’s young team stormed out of the locker room at halftime and made a game of it, but top-ranked Dallas Madison had more gas left in the tank thereafter and advanced to the Class 3A finals Thursday afternnoon at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin in the semifinals.

Dallas Madison (29-3), No. 6 in the final Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state poll, pulled away with a 10-3 spurt over a four-and-a-half-minute stretch that spanned the fourth quarters to win 77-62. Sam Houston had closed to 57-51 with 1:02 remaining in the third quarter after falling behind by 15 points with about two minutes until halftime.

With the victory, the Trojans advanced to play Houston Yates (24-8), which handed Kennedale its first loss of the season 86-79 in the other semifinal, at 10 a.m. Saturday for the 3A championship.

The No. 6 Hurricanes, who finished 27-10, put together an impressive run of their own to climb back into the game.

Down 44-31, they fell behind by 15 again with a little less than six minutes to play on a basket from Madison’s Cameron Bryant (19 points, 5 assists). A three-point basket from Hurricanes senior Jordon Harris (29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) started the flurry with 5:35 left in the quarter. Sophomore wing Robert Christian (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) followed with a layup that put Sam Houston within 10 points for the first time in eight minutes.

Sam Houston 6-foot-3 junior Devin Allen (8 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists) scored off a rebound and Harris recorded a layup that slashed Madison’s lead to 51-42 midway through the third quarter. The Hurricanes weren’t able to capitalize on a steal from freshman Jawon Anderson (10 points), but Anderson scored in the paint off another Madison turnover.

Trailing by seven, Sam Houston watched the Trojans score the next two baskets, including a fast-break layup by Roderick Johnson off a steal. However, one of Allen’s five 3-pointers and a jumper from Christian brought the Hurricanes within 57-51.

Sam Houston had a chance to cut the lead to four, but Trojans center Johnathan Turner (23 points, 10 rebounds) blocked a shot. Madison guard Armon Gilder (29 points, 11 rebounds) converted a steal into a layup with one second left in the third quarter to boost the lead to eight.

A fast-break layup from Christian off a steal from Harris and a free throw from sophomore Raymonte Prime (5 rebounds), Sam Houston’s quarterback in football season, had the Hurricanes within seven points with 5:42 to play. However, the Trojans scored the next six points to end the threat.

“We tried to full-court press,” Sam Houston coach Ike Thornton said, “but it (cost us) some layups. It’s tough to get back in the game if you aren’t able to extend pressure.”

As they have throughout the postseason, the Hurricanes got off to a good start in the state semifinal.

Christian connected on a jumper 24 seconds into the game for a 2-0 lead. The Trojans scored the next six, but Harris cut Madison’s lead to 6-4 with a layup off a steal from Anderson. Allen dished to Harris for a three-pointer and Sam Houston was within 8-7 with 4:24 left in the opening quarter.

Another three-pointer from Harris made it Madison 12-10 with 3:06 remaining in the first quarter. Harris averaged 24.3 points in the Hurricanes’ six postseason games.

Sam Houston had a chance to tie the score following a Trojans miss, but committed a turnover. Dallas Madison ran off the next six points and launched a 13-4 run that firmly asserted its control.

“This is a special group,” Thornton said. “I’m very proud of them. They have come together.”

Sam Houston shot in the 46- to 48-percent range through most of the game, but fell off to 41.9 percent at the end, after trying to shoot their way back into it with three-pointers. Dallas Madison made 46 percent of its 63 field-goal attempts.

The Hurricanes, who played no one taller than the 6-3 Allen, did an admirable job on the boards against the taller Trojans. Dallas Madison had a slim 40-36 rebounding advantage.

Statistically, the most revealing numbers were in the turnover and free throw discrepancies. Madison finished with 14 turnovers to Sam Houston’s 22, which led to 25 Trojans points and helped them estalish a 26-10 advantage in fast-break points. The Trojans made 17 of 24 free throws (70.2 percent), while the Hurricanes were four of 10 from the line (40 percent).

The loss ended a 15-game winning streak for Sam Houston. It was the school’s sixth state tournament appearance and first since 2005.

The Hurricanes will lose only Harris and wing Brandon Seals, who grabbed a rebound in the waning moments, to graduation. They will move up to Class 5A and compete in District 28-5A next season.

“This is the first time Sam Houston has been to state in some years,” Anderson said. “It was just a great experience.”

BASEBALL: South San vs. Brandeis photo gallery, Feb. 28, 2014 (photos by KJ Toso)

Photos taken by KJ Toso. For more photos or to purchase photos, please visit: http://kjtoso.photoshelter.com

South San catcher Adrian Gallegos tags out a runner at the plate off a strong throw from center fielder Nick Herrera. Gallegos hit a two-run, game-winning home run in the next inning.

Isaac Lugo was the winning pitcher in South San’s 4-3 decision over Brandeis in the NEISD Tournament.

Isaac Lugo was the winning pitcher in South San's 4-3 decision over Brandeis in the NEISD Tournament. — South San catcher Adrian Gallegos tags out a runner at the plate off a strong throw from center fielder Nick Herrera. Gallegos hit a two-run, game-winning home run in the next inning.

Isaac Lugo was the winning pitcher in South San’s 4-3 decision over Brandeis in the NEISD Tournament.

South San junior Frank Bosmans dives back to the bag to beat a Brandeis pickoff attempt.

South San senior Daniel Delgado evaluates a letter-high pitch.

BASEBALL: Highlands vs. Taft photo gallery, Feb. 27, 2014 (photos by KJ Toso)

Photos taken by KJ Toso. For more photos or to purchase photos, please visit: http://kjtoso.photoshelter.com

Owls senior Steven Martinez was the winning pitcher against Taft. Martinez also delivered a triple and two RBIs as a hitter.

Highlands' Joshua Ortega slides into third base and looks back for the call in a NEISD Tournament game against Taft. — Highlands’ Joshua Ortega slides into third base and looks back for the call in a NEISD Tournament game against Taft.

Highlands first baseman Gilbert Gomez keeps his foot on the bag while executing a stretch, recording an out in the Owls' 3-2 win over Taft. — Highlands first baseman Gilbert Gomez keeps his foot on the bag while executing a stretch, recording an out in the Owls’ 3-2 win over Taft.

Highlands shortstop Bryan Ortega hones in on a grounder Feb. 27 against Taft.

BASEBALL: Area rankings (thru March 4)

Through March 4

TOP 15:

1. East Central

2. McCollum

3. Southwest

4. Central Catholic

5. South San

6. Burbank

7. Brackenridge

8. Holy Cross

9. Harlandale

10. Southside

11. Highlands

12. Kennedy

13. Lanier

14. Memorial

15. Jefferson

SOFTBALL: Area rankings (thru March 4)

Through March 4

TOP 15:

1. Southwest

2. East Central

3. Brackenridge

4. Holy Cross

5. South San

6. McCollum

7. Harlandale

8. Jefferson

9. Providence

10. Edison

11. Highlands

12. Southside

13. Lanier

14. Kennedy

15. Memorial

BASEBALL: This week’s results (thru March 8)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

Games of March 2-8

Tuesday’s games

Non-district

Brackenridge (4-5) 9, Southside (3-7) 7

Harlandale (4-6) 11, Edison (0-8) 0 (5 innings)

McCollum (9-2) 10, Lanier (3-6) 0 (5 innings)

East Central (6-2-2) 12, Jefferson (1-9) 1

Highlands (5-6) 23, San Antonio Christian (0-4-2 ???) 2 (4 innings)

Johnson (10-0) 10, Central Catholic (7-5) 1 (5 innings)

Wednesday’s games

Non-district

South San (8-5) 5, Judson (4-7-1) 4 (8 innings)

Wagner (2-6) 8, Kennedy (4-5) 2.

New Braunfels (8-4) 9, Southwest (5-3-1) 0

Thursday’s games

Non-district

East Central Tournament

East Central (7-2-2) 9, Roosevelt (3-7) 1

Pearsall Tournament

AREA TEAMS – Sam Houston (1-7). Finals – Saturday. (scores unavailable)

Somerset Tournament

Southwest (6-2-1) 8, Holy Cross (3-6) 0 (4 innings)

Somerset (7-5) 3, Holy Cross (3-6) 2

Friday’s games

District 28-4A

Brennan (6-5-1, 1-0) 10, Jefferson (1-10, 0-1) 0

Lanier (4-6, 1-0) 8, Edison (0-9, 0-1) 3

Highlands (5-6, 1-0) 9, Burbank (2-8-1, 0-1) 0

District 29-4A

Medina Valley (8-2-1, 1-0) 12, Harlandale (4-7, 0-1) 0 (5 innings)

Kennedy (5-5, 1-0) 7, Uvalde (3-7-1, 0-1) 5

McCollum (10-2, 1-0) 4, Floresville (6-5, 0-1) 2

Memorial (4-7, 1-0) 2, Southside (3-8, 0-1) 0

Non-district

Central Catholic (8-5) 11, Brackenridge (4-6) 0 (5 innings)

East Central Tournament

East Central (9-2-2) 11, Lee (3-7) 3

East Central (9-2-2) 5, Johnson (13-1) 0

Pearsall Tournament

AREA TEAMS – Sam Houston (1-7). Finals – Saturday. (scores unavailable)

Somerset Tournament

Hondo (4-8) 8, Holy Cross (3-8) 2

Southwest (7-4-1) 9, Somerset (7-6) 2 (6 innings)

Hondo (4-8) 7, Southwest (7-4-1) 4

Saturday’s games

East Central Tournament

AREA TEAMS – East Central (9-2-2). Finals – Saturday. (scores unavailable)

Pearsall Tournament

AREA TEAMS – Sam Houston (1-7). Finals – Saturday. (scores unavailable)

Somerset Tournament

AREA TEAMS – Holy Cross (3-8), Southwest (7-4-1). Finals – Saturday. (scores unavailable)

SOFTBALL: This week’s results (thru March 8)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

Games of March 2-8

Tuesday’s games

District 28-4A

Brennan (11-3, 1-1) 12, Brackenridge (8-4-1, 0-1) 5

Edison (3-9, 2-0) 17, Highlands (3-6-1, 1-1) 15

Jefferson (5-5, 1-1) 19, Lanier (4-6, 0-2) 4 (5 innings)

District 29-4A

McCollum (6-3, 2-0) 12, Harlandale (6-8-1, 0-2) 1 (6 innings)

Kennedy (3-6, 1-1) 10, Memorial (1-8, 0-2) 6

Medina Valley (17-2, 2-0) 3, Uvalde (7-8, 1-1) 1

Floresville (8-8, 2-0) 9, Southside (3-11, 0-2) 8

TAPPS District 3-4A

Holy Cross (14-6, 1-0) 5, Austin Dominick Savio (???, 0-1) 0

Non-district

Burbank (2-8-1) at Wagner (4-7), 7 p.m. (score unavailable)

Wednesday’s games

TAPPS District 2-5A

Providence (4-3 ???, 1-0) 8, St. Anthony (3-7-1, 0-1) 6

Friday’s games

District 28-4A

Brackenridge (9-4-1, 1-1) 17, Burbank (2-9-1 ???, 0-2) 2 (4 innings)

Highlands (4-6-1, 2-1) 16, Jefferson (5-6, 1-2) 8

District 29-4A

Uvalde (8-8, 2-1) 12, Kennedy (3-7, 1-2) 1 (5 innings)

McCollum (7-3, 3-0) 3, Floresville (8-9, 2-1) 2

Southside (4-11, 1-2) 16, Memorial (1-9, 0-3) 1 (3 innings)

Medina Valley (18-2, 3-0) 20, Harlandale (6-9-1, 0-3) 6 (5 innings)

Non-district

East Central (15-3) 4, Edison (3-10) 0

South San (8-6-1), 9, Bandera (3-5 ???) 2.

Saturday’s games

District 28-4A

Brennan (12-3, 3-0) 15, Lanier (4-8, 0-3) 0 (4 innings)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Area state tournament schedule/results (updated March 6)

NOTE: teams we cover are in boldface

Games of March 2-8

Thursday’s games

CLASS 3A

State semifinals

Dallas Madison (29-3) 77, Sam Houston (27-10) 62

Kennedale (38-0) vs. Houston Yates (23-8) at Frank Erwin Center, Austin, 3 p.m.

Saturday’s game

CLASS 3A

State championship

Dallas Madison (29-3) vs. Kennedale (38-0)-Houston Yates (23-8) winner at Frank Erwin Center, Austin, 10 a.m.

BASEBALL WEEKEND REPORT: McCollum gets sneak preview of 29-4A at Southwest Tourney

South San finishes one win short of NEISD Tourney finals

Photos taken by KJ Toso. For more photos or to purchase photos, please visit: http://kjtoso.photoshelter.com

TEAMS INCLUDED: Central Catholic, Edison, Harlandale, Highlands, Kennedy, McCollum, Memorial, Sam Houston, South San, Southwest.

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER STORY:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/McCollum-wins-three-of-four-games-at-Southwest-5285713.php

McCollum split four games at the Southwest Tournament last weekend, but may have emerged with something valuable as the District 29-4A season gets underway this Friday.

The Cowboys (8-2) got a chance to matchup against two of its district rivals, including title favorite Medina Valley within the confines of the tournament. McCollum begins its 29-4A season Friday at Floresville.

McCollum lost 4-0 to Medina Valley, No. 8 in the Express-News area rankings, last Thursday at Southwest. The Cowboys, though, bounced back to defeat archrival Harlandale 13-6 last Friday in a battle of prospective playoff contenders.

The Cowboys, under first-year coach Hector Delgadillo after Jose Garza accepted an administrative position at McCollum, faced a four-run deficit three innings into their tournament opener against Medina Valley (7-2-1). Brothers Cody and Kyle Moos limited McCollum to two hits for the Panthers.

Against Harlandale, the Indians (3-6) received two hits from Robert Palomino and two RBIs from Ramzey Martinez. However, they couldn’t compete with McCollum’s offensive onslaught. Individual statistics for the Cowboys were not available.

McCollum also blanked Stevens 8-0 and fell 4-3 to Jay on Friday.

Harlandale wasn’t able to pick up a win in the tournament. It lost 8-2 to district rival Uvalde and 4-1 to the host team on Friday. Palomino collected three hits and Christian Slocum had two against the Dragons (5-2-1). Southwest individual statistics were not available.

Southwest, which won the SAISD Tournament a week earlier, tied Uvalde 2-2 Thursday and lost 7-1 to Brennan Friday.

NEISD Tournament

South San (7-5) was within one game of the NEISD Tournament championship game last Saturday, but fell 4-2 to Austin Bowie. The Bobcats subsequently fell 5-1 to Clark, their second loss to the Cougars in the three-day tournament, to finish with a 3-2 record at the Blossom Athletic Complex.

The Bobcats had edged Brandeis 4-3 and defeated Roosevelt 8-4 last Friday to put themselves in the semifinals.

“We’ve managed to battle,” South San coach Robert Zamora said. “The problem is that we give up runs early in the game, then we have to battle just to get back into the game. Take out the first inning against Bowie, and we were right in it.”

The Bobcats defeated Brandeis on the strength of a two-run, sixth-inning home run from senior Adrian Gallegos. Isaac Lugo was the winning pitcher for South San.

Highlands (4-6) defeated Taft 3-2 Thursday and Roosevelt 9-7 Saturday in the tournament. Steven Martinez belted a two-run triple that helped make him the winning pitcher against Taft. Martinez struck out six and allowed just one earned run against the Raiders.

Edgewood ISD Tournament

Kennedy (4-4) opened the tournament at Edgewood Field with a 15-2 win over Sam Houston Thursday, but the Rockets had mixed results on the tournament’s final day.

The Rockets’ Miguel Zamarripa limited Sam Houston to three hits, while the offense provided a nine-run cushion.

They defeated Dilley 4-1 last Saturday, but lost 5-1 to St. Anthony (8-4). Sophomore ace Fabian Del Toro was the winning pitcher for Kennedy against Dilley. The Rockets took charge with three runs in the second inning.

Sam Houston (1-7) picked up its first victories of the season, edging Memorial 13-9 Friday. Hurricanes pitcher Rudy Lopez notched the win. Ivan DeAnda hit a home run for the Minutemen.

Memorial (3-7) bounced back to defeat Edison (0-7) 8-4 and Cole 11-10 on Friday. The Minutemen also squeaked past Edison 8-7 on Thursday. In the Cole win, Memorial wiped out an 8-0 deficit with six runs in the third inning and five in the fourth.

Judson Tournament

Central Catholic (7-4) won three of five games at the Judson Tournament over the weekend. The Buttons defeated Hays 2-1 and Laredo United South 11-5 Thursday and Wagner 13-5 Friday.

The Buttons scored single runs in the first and fourth inning against Hays and took a 2-0 shutout into the sixth and final inning. Central Catholic cruised to victory against United South after scoring six runs in the top of the first inning. Against Wagner, the Buttons broke a 2-2 tie with six runs in the top of the second.

Individual statistics for Central Catholic were unavailable for all tournament games.

SOFTBALL: Uvalde’s clutch hits overwhelm Harlandale

Lobos break open 29-4A opener with 10-run seventh

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER STORY:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Uvalde-defeats-Harlandale-5285728.php

Sometimes the frequency of hits isn’t as important as when they materialize.

Uvalde’s base hits all seemed to arrive when the Lobos (7-7, 1-0) needed them Friday at the Frank Tejeda Complex. In the District 29-4A opener for both teams, the visitors only mustered two more hits than Harlandale (6-7-1, 0-1) but they utilized them to fashion a 17-4 victory.

“That was one of those nights I didn’t expect,” Uvalde coach Lee Summers said. “Normally, when we play Harlandale, it’s a two- or three-run game. The girls did a good job of (hitting in clutch situations) tonight.”

Harlandale took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Sabrina Esparza sliced a leadoff doubles to right-center field. Indians shortstop Jackie Espinoza followed with a tying RBI single, answering a run the Lobos had scored in the top half of the inning without the benefit of a hit.

A sacrifice fly from.freshman catcher Angelika Anguiano, a defensive standout, provided the short-lived lead. Uvalde tied it 2-2 in the top of the second after No. 9 hitter Merilee Parker smacked a double.

It was the only hit Harlandale junior pitcher Isabella Tellez permitted through the first three innings. Unfortunately, control was an issue for the first-year starter. She walked five and hit a batsman in that span. “We have a lot of players in new positions,” Harlandale coach Jennifer Bocanegra said. “We have a new pitcher and a new freshman catcher, who’s really stepped up and taken on a big role. She’s coming on, offensively and defensively.”

Bocanegra credited Espinoza, Esparza and first baseman Brittany Livas for providing stability while the positional newcomers develop.

Tellez gave up to walks in the fourth, ahead of a bases-clearing double from Uvalde standout Alessandra Ortiz (1-for-2, 5 RBI). The two-out extra-base hit gave the Lobos a 5-2 advantage.

Maya Tovar supplied a leadoff single in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch, bringing the Indians within 5-3. Uvalde added two runs without a hit in the sixth, then struck for 10 in the final inning as Esparza made her second appearance in the pitcher’s circle.

“Our biggest goal is the three key roles we need every year: steady pitching, consistent defense and timely hitting,” Bocanegra said. “We did have nine hits, but they weren’t timely hits.

“Coming into the season, hitting is what we were challenged to do. We need to outscore opponents to give our pitcher a lot of room not to be afraid to make a mistake.”

Uvalde scored its sixth-inning runs on a fielder’s choice and a walk. In the seventh, eight-consecutive batters reached base with one out. Six hit their way on. The Lobos had three doubles in the inning, including a two-run drive from winning pitcher Morgan Henderson and a three-run smash from Adrianna Estrada.

After finishing second in 29-4A last year, the Lobos have high aspirations for the district season.

“I think we’re starting to get some things to come together,” Summers said. “The girls are pumped up. Their goal is to win district. That’s the carrot we’re playing for. I think we can do it.”

Harlandale has 11 seniors on the roster, the most Bocanegra ever has had with the Indians.

She said an 8-2 win over McCollum a week earlier in the Harlandale ISD Tournament showed that her team is capable of being in the playoff mix in 29-4A. They hit from the leadoff position to the bottom of the order.

“Our ultimate goal is to win the games we need to win and steal a couple from the teams that are a challenge for us,” Bocanegra said. “Stealing games from the teams that our bigger competitors really is our biggest key.”

BOYS BASKETBALL: Sam Houston may be 3A state Cinderella, but has prepared for challenge

Hurricanes reach state for first time since 2005 with regional-final win over West Oso

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE SOUTHSIDE REPORTER STORY:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/communities/southside/article/Sam-Houston-ready-for-the-big-time-5285688.php

Sam Houston may look like the Cinderella of the Class 3A state finalists – given the Hurricanes’ relative youth and inexperience – but the proverbial glass slipper doesn’t fit quite as well as some might believe.

The Hurricanes (27-9) were ranked No. 6 in the final Texas Association of Basketball Coaches state poll. They’ll play No. 1 Dallas Madison (28-3) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin in the semifinals.

The other semifinal will pit No. 2 Kennedale (38-0) against No. 3 Houston Yates (23-8). The winners will play at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Erwin Center for the state championship.

“Everybody in Texas assumes that a team from Dallas or Houston is going to be crowned champion,” Sam Houston coach Ike Thornton said. “San Antonio is always going to come out with something to prove, until we consistently outperform those teams.”

The seventh-year Hurricanes coach, who has guided his team to the school’s first state finals appearance since 2005, doesn’t see Sam Houston as a Cinderella, however,

“That’s definitely not a comfortable spot for us,” Thornton said. “We play a tough schedule. We’ve played teams that play on a level the other three teams (at state) play on.”

Sam Houston has won 15 consecutive games since dropping a 73-53 decision to Churchill Jan. 10. The Chargers reached the regional quarterfinals in 5A.

Madison, whom Sam Houston played earlier in the year, made it to the 5A Region IV finals. Hurricanes opponents Central Catholic and San Antonio Christian advanced to the state quarterfinals in their respective classes, and Sam Houston lost to them by a combined eight points. The Hurricanes defeated Laredo Alexander (73-61), which reached the 5A regional quarters.

Sam Houston played nine 5A playoff qualifiers, defeating Southwest 57-55, El Paso Montwood 60-51 and Johnson 72-58 in addition to Alexander. It blasted 4A qualifier Austin McCallum 59-43.

The Hurricanes’ journey to the state semifinals consisted of five wins by margins of more than 16 points. Sam Houston has averaged 71.8 points and limited opponents to a 49.0 average.

Sam Houston locked in the trip to Austin with a 72-46 win over Corpus Christi West Oso (23-6) Saturday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi. The Bears eliminated Sam Houston in the regional semifinals in 2011 and 2012.

“They were ready to go,” Thornton said. “We had a 7 a.m. team wake up and several of them were already up and ready to go..They went to bed on time and kept focusing on the task at hand, which was winning the regional.”

The Hurricanes, who will making the school’s sixth trip to state, established a commanding 23-6 lead early in the Region IV championship game. Their lead reached 20 points in the third quarter, and Sam Houston cruised to the victory.

Sam Houston had a 27-8 advantage after eight minutes and led 35-22 at the half. The Bears outscored the Hurricanes 14-8 in the second quarter.

“Watching (West Oso) play in the semifinals against Wharton, we saw that they could get up and down the court in a hurry,” Thornton said. “Wharton pressed pretty much the whole game and it gave West Oso the opportunity to play to their strengths.

“We didn’t press them at all. We played strictly halfcourt defense and mixed it up between a zone and (man-to-man).”

West Oso could get no closer. After the lead reached 20 late in the third quarter, the Bears scored the next four points, but were unable to build on the momentum.

All four classes were represented among Sam Houston’s leading scorers on a team that starts one senior, one junior, two sophomores and a freshman.

Senior Jordon Harris produced a game-high 31 points to lead Sam Houston. Harris scored 17 points in the first half.

“(Jordon) pretty much started it,” Thornton said. “He’s our starting point guard and pretty much cut their head off early in the game, and set the tone.”

Junior post Devin Allen contributed 14 points. Sophomore wing Robert Christian, who is becoming a more consistent scorer in the post season, finished with 14 points. Freshman guard Jawon Anderson added eight points.

The margin of victory actually was typical of the Hurricanes’ postseason run. In the five games, Sam Houston has averaged 71.8 points and limited opponents to a 49.0 average. It has won each of those games by 16 or more points.

Sam Houston advanced to the regional final by defeating 63-42 win over Hidalgo (30-9) Friday at American Bank Center. The Hurricanes forced 26 turnovers.

Although Sam Houston led Hidalgo 16-4 at one point in the first quarter, the Pirates were within 21-17 at halftime.

“We were flat,” Thornton said. “We had foul trouble, and some of the guys on the floor weren’t playing at the same level as some of the guys on the bench had. Also, Jordon didn’t play well in the first half. He was just out of rhythm.”

The Hurricanes scored 11 points in the first two minutes of the second half, knocking down three 3-point baskets during the spurt. Eventually, they scored 15 of the first 17 points in the half to open a 17-point advantage.

By the end of the third-quarter, Sam Houston led 49-27. The Hurricanes scored 28 points in the eight-minute span, while limiting Hidalgo to 10.

The Pirates closed to 55-40 with 4:57 remaining, but the Hurricanes rallied again. Sam Houston finished the game on an 8-2 run.

Hidalgo made the game close at the half after Sam Houston endured a scoring drought of more than six minutes. The Hurricanes mustered just five points in the second quarter.

“We didn’t feel like we were in any danger,” Thornton stressed. “We felt like it was just a matter of time before we broke the game open.”

Harris, one of just two seniors in the Hurricanes’ playing rotation and the only senior starter, led Sam Houston with 22 points. Christian produced 18 points. Allen chipped in 11 points. Sophomore Raymonte Prime contributed eight.

Sam Houston is the second team that Thornton has taken to the state tournament, but the first in Texas. The University of Texas-San Antonio alum coached Trotwood Madison, in suburban Dayton, to the large-school classification state tourney 0in Ohio nine years ago.

Then his wife, a San Antonio native, took a job here and he left the junior-dominated team behind. A year later, Thornton landed the Sam Houston job.

The Hurricanes reached the 3A regional semifinals for the fourth-consecutive year. Last season, they advanced to the finals but lost to Royal.

“The last three years have affected the coaching staff more than the kids,” he said. “Primarily, we tried to look in the mirror at our shortcomings and saw what we needed to change. We tried to grow from it every year.

“My first year as a varsity coach in Ohio, after we lost in the playoffs, the next day I went to my mailbox and found this note: ‘The elevator to the top is broken. You must take the stairs.’

“I had never heard that before, but I’ve tried to in my (mind) since.”

Sam Houston made the climb in time to build a bridge to next season, when the returnees will move up to Class 5A (currently 4A) to join their fellow SAISD teams, along with traditional basketball hotbeds Harlandale and McCollum.

“We’re young enough that this should inspire the kids to work hard in the offseason and prepare,” Thornton said, “especially since we’re going to make the jump up to 5A next year.”