Kimball’s Allen preserves win
His blocked shot in final seconds denies Beaumont Central.
Playing in the state tournament for the fourth straight year, Dallas Kimball forward D’Angelo Allen knows his way around the low post at the Erwin Center.
With his team leading 58-56 in the waning seconds Thursday night, the 6-foot-7 senior blocked a potential tying shot by Beaumont Central guard Michael Jaquet. Kimball rebounded and fed the basketball to Xavier Johnson, whose uncontested layup put the finishing touches on a 60-56 victory in a Class 4A state semifinal.
On Saturday, Kimball (24-7) will face Amarillo or Schertz Clemens in the Class 4A final. Amarillo and Clemens faced off late Thursday night in the other 4A semifinal.
Central, which trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, chipped away at Kimball’s lead and trailed 58-56 after a bucket by junior post Andre Morris with 3:05 to go.
Kimball went into a stall after Morris’ shot, but gave up possession when forward Trenton Brinkley was whistled for a charge with 48 seconds to play.
Central worked for a final shot, and Jaquet appeared to be clear for a layup with about 10 seconds to go.
Allen’s clean block on the right side of the rim ended Central’s bid to upset Kimball, which reached the Class 4A title game for the fourth straight year.
Kimball guard Jawun Evans scored 23 points, but only two came after halftime. Allen, Johnson and Dondre Carter each scored 11 points for the Knights.
Central (31-5) was led by guard Nijal Pearson, who scored 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Class 3A semifinals
Dallas Madison 77, SA
Sam Houston 62: Dallas Madison’s three-pronged offensive attack overwhelmed San Antonio Sam Houston in a up-tempo Class 3A semifinal.
Admon Gilder, a junior who scored 19 points in Madison’s victory in 2013 Class 3A final, had 29 points and 11 rebounds Thursday. He scored 12 straight points for Madison in a stretch that bridged the first and second quarters.
Madison (29-3) led by as many 15 points in the first half, when Johna- than Turner scored 15 of his 23 points.
“We were able to pressure their guards into some bad shots, and when they missed them, they got a little out of rhythm,” said Madison coach Roderick Johnson. “We were able to attack the rim and got some easy baskets.”
Sam Houston (27-10) was led by Jordon Harris’ 29 points.
Houston Yates 86,
Kennedale 79: Houston Yates received a combined 56 points from Damion Lewis, JC Washington and Jacob Young, and the Lions hit a handful of clutch shots down the stretch to advance to the Class 3A final.
Lewis scored a gamehigh 22 points — he was 11 of 12 at the free-throw line — to lead the Lions (24-8) into a 3A final against Dallas Madison for the second consecutive season. Last year, Madison defeated Yates 85-72.
Washington added 19 points and 17 rebounds while Jacob Young had for 17 points, 15 of which came on three-pointers.
Kennedale (38-1) pulled within 78-76 with 1:26 to play but Davion Houston made a 3-pointer to give Yates a little cushion.
— STEVE HABEL, FOR AA-S
Class A, Division I semifinals
Muenster 65, Grape
land 64: Muenster relied on its size advantage to win its state tournament debut and advance to the Class A, Division I championship game.
Muenster (28-2) held a 12-point advantage at the 5:41 mark of the fourth quarter, but the Sandies battled back and drew within 64-61 with 35 seconds to go.
Grapeland guards Jaques Faulk and Patrick Walker missed possible game-tying 3-pointers, and Muenster’s Lyndon Cook, a 6-7 junior, made the second of two freethrow attempts with 4.3 seconds to play.
Cook’s free throw proved to be the difference as Walker hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Cook led Muenster, which will face Mumford in the final, with 20 points and 26 rebounds. His 6-6 teammate Cole Walterscheid added 18 points and nine rebounds.
Walker’s 37 points led Grapeland (33-5).
Mumford 59, Smyer
48: Mumford rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to reach the Class A, Division I title game for the third straight year.
Helped by Luke Vedder’s 10 points and a 6-of29 shooting performance by Mumford, Smyer built a 25-19 halftime lead. Mumford gained a shortlived lead in the third quarter, but Smyer (29-6) entered the final period with a 37-34 edge.
Mumford, however, scored 13 of the final quarter’s first 15 points.
The Mustangs (381) then completed their turnaround on Dion Mack’s three-point play with 2:07 to go that gave them a 52-43 lead.
LaKendric Hyson scored 20 of his gamehigh 25 points for Mumford in the second half.