Griggs’ 43 points deliver Hurricanes to final four
Advancing to the regional tournament isn’t easy, much less finding a way to survive and reach the state tourney.
Bryce Griggs sure makes it look easy though.
Hightower’s sophomore sensation dropped an effortless 43 points on 16-of-21 shooting, leading the Hurricanes to a 71-62 win over district rival Shadow Creek in the Region III-5A final Saturday at the Campbell Center.
“Bryce was Bryce tonight,” Hightower coach Steven Woods said. “The bigger the stage, the brighter the lights, the better he plays, so I just hope he continues to do that for two more games.”
The Class 5A semifinals are set for 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, where Hightower (33-5), Lancaster, San Antonio Wagner and Mansfield Timberview will compete for a spot in the state championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday.
This is Hightower’s first trip to the state tournament since 2011.
“This is great because last year we lost in the fourth round and we didn’t want to do that this year,” said Griggs, who added six assists, five rebounds and two steals. “Just winning the regional finals is great, because that means two more games with my brothers, and that’s what it’s all about.”
His brothers are happy to play with him.
The 6-foot guard picked up three assists in the first three minutes, including one pass that set up a Ja Robertson (13 points) dunk in transition, helping the Hurricanes snare a 10-6 lead in the first quarter.
Shadow Creek responded with a 3-point barrage, including back-to-back threes from the left corner by Ramon Walker, who scored the final eight points in the first, giving the Sharks a 20-15 lead.
But those threes didn’t go in in the second quarter, and the Sharks never recovered.
Hightower held them to four points in the quarter, which they started with an 11-0 run to take a 26-20 advantage. Griggs hit three of his four 3-pointers in the second, including one from the right corner with no time left in the first half, netting a 38-24 advantage the Hurricanes never relinquished.
Griggs scored all 14 of Hightower’s points in the third to make sure it stayed ahead.
“When you’re coaching a player like Bryce, the most important thing is spacing on offense and getting movement so the defense can’t lock in on him,” Woods said. “I don’t think there’s one person in the city of Houston or the state of Texas that can stay in front of him without putting their hands on him.”
Will Young had 30 points and seven boards, and he helped Shadow Creek (29-4) cut the lead to 68-62 with 1:23 left before Griggs sealed Hightower’s fourth regional championship at the freethrow line.
Walker added 25 points and five boards for Shadow Creek.
With Griggs barely missing, Hightower shot 70 percent in the first half (14 of 20) and 65.8 percent for the game (25 of 38).