Sharks advance with second-half outburst
Shadow Creek’s first season in Class 6A will include the longest playoff run in school history.
The Sharks pulled away in the second half for a 6647 victory against Tompkins in the Region III-6A semifinals Saturday at Merrell Center. They will play Cypress Creek for the regional title.
District 23-6A champion Shadow Creek (25-4) advanced to the regional semifinals in Class 5A last year and made the most of its return trip, breaking open a two-point halftime lead with a 22-8 third quarter. Coach Latoya Micheaux said she’s proud because the girls put in the necessary work.
“Finally we win district, then we get to round one, then round two,” Micheaux said. “So, our goal was to do whatever it takes to advance to a round that we’ve never been to. One quarter at a time, one minute at time.”
Shadow Creek led 17-13 after one quarter with the help of two threes by R’Mani Taylor and another by Brooklin Brown. The Sharks led 10-3 before two threes by Crystal Smith sparked a 10-2 Falcons run. Smith added two free throws for a 13-12 advantage, erased by free throws from Bre’yon White.
A jumper by Raichel Anderson gave Shadow Creek a 29-21 advantage, but baskets by Loghan Johnson and Sydnee Smith kept the Falcons within reach. Macy Spencer hit two first-half 3pointers, including a buzzer-beater off the backboard to bring Tompkins within 30-28 at halftime.
But the Sharks hit their stride offensively in the third, with seven different players scoring. Brown sunk two 3-pointers to start the charge, putting Shadow Creek ahead 40-30. The
Sharks led 52-36 entering the fourth and put the game away with a three-point play by White followed by another three from Brown.
White finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Brown tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.
Smith led Tompkins (20-4) with 16 points, while Spencer and Fiyin Adeleye finished with eight points. Tanvi Koyyada had two blocks and two steals off the bench.
Shadow Creek has a tall task waiting in the regional final, taking on a Cypress Creek squad seeking its third state tournament appearance in four years. The Cougars improved to 30-0 on Friday at Merrell Center with a 71-41 victory against Summer Creek.
Micheaux and the Sharks have complete respect for Cy Creek.
“They’re very wellknown,” Micheaux said.
“You have two McDonald’s All Americans (Cy Creek’s Kyndall Hunter and Rori Harmon), they’re undefeated this year. One thing I told my girls is everyone has to put their pants on the same way. You have to go out there and fight - quarter by quarter, fight by fight. We’re not just here just to be here and say ‘Hey, we made it this far.’ We’re here to compete and that’s our goal.”