San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Sweep provides Thunderbirds confidence boost
Nothing scares the Wagner Thunderbirds these days.
Friday’s 56-50 road victory over five-time reigning regional champion Judson is proof.
Wagner, led by polished and confident freshman point guard LA Sneed, completed a season sweep of the Rockets for the first time in seven years and moved into sole possession of first place in District 27-6A with five games remaining.
Sneed had a near triple-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Junior guard Sahvani Sancho added 17 points and scored four 3-pointers.
“We knew we had to take advantage of all the hard work we’ve put in the preseason, offseason,” Sancho said. “And we knew we had to come in and win and be first place in district.”
The No. 7 Thunderbirds (17-9 overall) improved to 8-1 in district. No. 4 Judson (25-6) and No. 6 Steele (18-11) are 7-2 and Clemens (19-10) is 6-3. Wagner can clinch a playoff spot with a victory at Smithson Valley on Friday.
“We just need to continue to play how we’ve been playing, knocking down shots and basically just being us,” Sneed said. “Our preseason prepared us for district.”
The Thunderbirds played with poise after Judson went on a 10-0 run to take a 34-30 lead in the third quarter.
The lead then changed hands five times before the Thunderbirds took control when Sneed made a free throw to complete a three-point play after getting a steal and layup, making it 41-38 with 4:55 left.
Sancho nailed back-to-back 3s that gave the Thunderbirds their
biggest lead at 51-41 at the 2:51 mark. The Rockets didn’t get closer than four after that.
“I was so proud of my teammate,” Sneed said. “I know what she’s capable of and I know that’s what she can do and that’s make big shots. …. It felt good and it was
a big moment in the game for us.”
Wagner was at its best when it ran the floor. The Thunderbirds were at a significant height disadvantage with Rockets 6-foot power forward and Tulane-bound Amira Mabry scoring 30.
“That’s how we play,” Sneed said. “We’re not big at all, so we’ve just got to be fast and quick. That’s our game style.”
Wagner is rolling after a rough pre-district season in which they went 9-8. The Thunderbirds, with only one senior, are playing one of the toughest schedules in the area. Five of their losses have come against teams ranked in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ top 10.
Wagner opened with a 72-50 loss to reigning Class 5A champion and current No. 1 Cedar Park. Others defeats came against Clark
(current area No. 1 and 6A No. 3), South Grand Prairie (6A No. 9), Austin High (6A No. 1) and HardinJefferson (4A No. 2).
“That has helped us maintain our composure,” Sancho said. “Since we played all these tough teams in the beginning, now we are ready to play district. … We lost a little confidence because we thought we deserved to win a few of those games. But, at the end of the day, we bounced back. They punched us and we got back up.”
The Thunderbirds’ lone district loss was an 82-81 overtime loss to Steele on Jan. 4 — a game where Sneed scored 50 points.
Wagner plays host to Steele at 7 p.m. Friday.