First-half scoring drought dooms Rockets

20-0 Cypress Creek run across two quarters proves too much for Judson to overcome

GOLIAD — Judson, which has pulled out some heart-pounding postseason victories, didn’t get a chance for such dramatics Saturday.

The Rockets fell impossibly far behind after allowing a 20-0 run in what turned into a 55-34 victory for Houston Cypress Creek in a Class 6A state semifinal at Goliad High School.

The Cougars’ McDonald’s AllAmerican backcourt tandem of Rori Harmon and Kyndall Hunter, who will be Texas Longhorns next season, led the way.

Cypress Creek (32-0) finished the first quarter on a 10-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Harmon 3pointers to go with two jumpers by Hunter.

“It was real tough,” Judson coach Triva Corrales said. “I mean, you can’t get down to a team like that. You can’t afford it, but I thought (my) team showed great heart, great perseverance, and I’m proud of them.”

Hunter finished with 15 points and Harmon added 14.

A big key was the boards, as the Cougars bought many second chances with their 44-28 rebounding advantage. Jasmyn Jackson had 11 rebounds for Cypress

Creek.

Judson senior guard Kierra Sanderlin kept the Rockets (26-2) in it early, scoring eight of her team’s first 12 points.

Sanderlin’s jumper with 2:01 left in the first quarter put the Rockets ahead 12-11.

And then for the minutes, nothing.

Cypress Creek scored the first 10 points of the second quarter before Kiyonna Botello ended Judson’s scoring drought by draining a 3-pointer at the 2:52 mark of the second quarter that

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Charlie Blalock / Contributor Kierra Sanderlin, a member of Judson’s 2019 state title team, had 12 points and 10 rebounds in her final game for the Rockets.