Sharpshooting Atascocita storms past Ridge Point
When Atascocita coach David Martinez watched Ridge Point on video, he saw a squad that looked a lot like his — a guard-heavy group that can run and shoot.
But the Panthers couldn’t score fast enough Tuesday to keep up with Atascocita.
The No. 12 Eagles shot a sizzling 81.8 percent from the field during the first quarter, led by 19 points at halftime and cruised to a 76-41 victory in the Class 6A, Region III semifinals at Delmar Fieldhouse.
“We shoot the ball pretty well, and we’ve got multiple guys who can do it,” Martinez said.
Atascocita (23-2) shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55) for the game. Tom Hart III led the way with 20 points.
Kaleb Stewart added 13 points, and A.J. Aungst had 11.
The Eagles did not commit a turnover in the second half and finished with just six, while Ridge Point had 15 turnovers.
“We’re experienced,” Martinez said. “We’ve got a group of seniors who have been with us quite some time, and a group of juniors behind them who can really play as well. It’s a good mix, and they all get along with each other. That’s the main thing — they love each other, they pull for each other, and they’ve done that all year long.”
Caleb Hill led Ridge Point (14-5) with 12 points.
Atascocita had only 11 points in the second quarter, but still buoyed its lead by holding Ridge Point to 0-of-9 shooting in the quarter.
The Panthers shot only 25 percent (14-of-56) for the game.
“At the end of the day we hang our hat on defense, no matter what happens offensively, because you just never know,” Martinez said. “We’ve had games where we just didn’t have it going for whatever reason, so we try to dig in defensively, and we did a good job flying around. They run some really good stuff, and without a whole lot of time to prepare our guys were focused, and did a really good job defending it.”
Summer Creek eliminates Elkins
Summer Creek is still dancing.
Jaylon Johnson supplied 16 points, and the No. 14 Bulldogs held off No. 7 Elkins 57-52 to clinch their first regional finals appearance.
“In basketball, championship are won based on stopping the other team, not outscoring them, and it’s starting to sink in,” Summer Creek coach Kenneth Coleman said. “They’re digging down and getting big stops when they need them.”
Elkins grabbed its first lead 42-41 on a Koy Glover layup early in the fourth quarter. Then Summer Creek freshman Jakeel Registe took over, hitting a long jumper to reclaim the lead and extending the edge to 48-45 with a layup at the 4:44 mark. Registe had all eight of his points in the fourth.
The Bulldogs (20-5) held on at the free-throw line in the final 1:15.
“They’re basketball players, and basketball players don’t really have grades,” Coleman said of Registe and fellow freshman Cameron Patterson, whose 3-pointer in the second quarter punctuated a 9-0 run.
Chris Johnson led Elkins (18-2) with 16 points.
Summer Creek will reunite with 21-6A rival Atascocita in the regional final.
The Eagles, in the regional finals for the first time since 2016, won both district meetings 68- 58 and 54-52.
Paetow roars into regional final
A magical run for Paetow continued with a 7042 victory over Goose Creek Memorial in the Class 5A-III semifinals.
Paetow is 23-1 and awaits Beaumont United in a tantalizing regional final.
Goose Creek Memorial ends a season in which it earned its first state ranking (No. 24) at 24-4.
Dallas area rules in Region II
Powerhouse Duncanville defeated Cypress Park 70-42 in the Class 6A Region II semifinals. The deepest run in Cypress Park’s five-year history was a memorable one, accentuated by a five-overtime win over Cypress Ranch in the regional semifinals.
In the other 6A-II semifinal, Cypress Woods fell to top-ranked Waxahachie 84-51.
Stafford denied on the court
Stafford lost to Somerset 57-51 in the Class 4A-IV semifinals.
Stafford won the region last year, but its state tournament trip was cut short with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the event.