Rockets don’t let lead or victory get away
Sanderlin’s late steal helps to make sure never give up motto pays off for team
NEW BRAUNFELS — With a remarkable playoff legacy on the line, Judson senior guard Kierra Sanderlin locked in.
No other player on the floor had played in more big-time games.
With Judson trailing by one point in the final minute, Sanderlin swiped the ball loose from Clark’s Hailey Adams, who was milking the clock. A battle for the ball ensued, with Sanderlin securing it on the floor and dishing to junior forward Amira Mabry, who scored on a contested layup with 20 seconds left.
The Rockets didn’t let that lead go. Judson forced another turnover on Clark’s next possession and secured the Class 6A thirdround playoff game with a pair of free throws by senior guard Kiyonna Botello in a 48-45 victory Wednesday at New Braunfels Canyon.
“We’re taught never to give up,” said Sanderlin, who is signed with Rutgers. “I saw the ball and I saw my man. I dove on that floor and I gave it to my man.”
The Rockets (24-1), who have advanced to the state tournament the last four years, will play either Edinburg or Harlingen in the Region IV-6A semifinals later this week.
The last time the Rockets lost in the third round was five years ago, when Wagner beat them 6355.
That sprung their run over the last four years that led to a Class 6A state championship two seasons ago. Sanderlin factored heavily in the Rockets winning that title as a sophomore.
A year ago, the Rockets qualified for the state semifinals when Sanderlin led a comeback against Austin Westlake in the regional final, scoring 19 of Judson’s 21 points in the fourth quarter. That enabled the Rockets to erase a 10point deficit and post a 50-47 win.
Sanderlin referred to the Westlake game as she recounted what happened Wednesday.
“It came down to experience,” Sanderlin said. “We knew that we had to play until the double zeroes were on the clock, and that’s what we did.”
It wasn’t a stat-busting night for Sanderlin, who had eight points. She sat the entire second quarter when she picked up her second foul late in the first.
Judson held a 13-6 lead after one quarter and expanded it to 29-17 at halftime The Rockets finished the second quarter with an 8-3 run.
“They had my back regardless,” Sanderlin said. “We can get through any game without me, and I love that.”
Junior guard Michaela Verrett scored a team-high 17 points, including 11 in the first half.
“We’re not going to have Kierra next year, so we always work on handling the ball ourselves,” Verrett said. “Just working on that in practice helped us in this game.”
Clark (16-2) used its length on defense, with 6-foot Adams, a junior guard, and 6-1 junior center Aaliyah Roberson to stifle Judson in the third quarter.
Clark found a way to match Judson’s energy and outscored it 17-3 in third quarter.
Cougars freshman guard Natalie Huff scored a team-high 16 points, including two on a steal from an inbound pass that put Clark in the lead for the first time at 32-21 with 1:12 in the third.
Clark led 34-32 heading into the fourth. Sanderlin sank two jumpers in the first minute as Judson regained the lead.
Huff ’s layup with 2:09 left put the Cougars on top with their largest advantage at 43-39.
The Rockets trailed 45-42 when the 5-7 Verrett nailed a tough inside shot in traffic with 1:31 left.
“We know were not the tallest team, but we know how to get through tall people,” Verrett said.
That led to Sanderlin’s steal and Mabry’s basket, which set her in the 1,000-point club.
“I felt like we held our composure well and made it a good game,” Verrett said.