San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Champion, Boerne, Cole punch tickets to state semis
Boerne Champion advanced to the UIL state tournament for the first time in program history with a 51-46 victory over District 26-5A rival San Antonio Veterans Memorial in the Region IV-5A championship Saturday afternoon at Littleton Gym.
Champion next plays in a Class 5A semifinal Thursday night at the Alamodome. The UIL will release the state semifinal pairings on Sunday.
The Chargers (33-6) were led by senior guard Owen Tate, who had 14 points and four 3-pointers. Braxton Burdick had 12, Braden Baum 11 and Jesse Peart 10.
The Patriots (32-6) saw their run ended one game away from the state tournament in their first postseason appearance in the program’s fifth year of existence.
Veterans Memorial was 12-10 in last year’s pandemic-shortened season. Before that, the Patriots hadn’t won more than 14 games, which were all losing seasons.
Veterans Memorial was led by Zach Rygg’s 12 points. Rygg drained a 3-pointer with 1:59 in the fourth that drew the Patriots to within 45-43.
Baum answered with a layup on the other end. Peart came up with a steal that kept Champion ahead 47-43 with 1:24 left. The Chargers closed it out by making 4 of 5 free throws.
BOERNE 45, SOMERSET 44 (OT)
Houston Hendrix’s putback with 0.4 seconds remaining lifted the Greyhounds to an overtime victory over the Bulldogs at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Greyhounds (32-6) advance to the state semifinals for the second season in a row.
Boerne defeated Somerset in last year’s regional final (61-59), too.
Somerset’s Matthew Soto sent the game to OT with a deep 3pointer that tied it at 40. The Bulldogs nearly pulled out the game in regulation, but Soto’s half-court
shot at buzzer went off the glass.
The Bulldogs (31-5) took their first lead at 42-40 on a Tajh Jones bucket. Jaxon Gutierrez’s basket put the Bulldogs ahead 44-41.
Boerne pulled to within 44-43 on Devin Styles’ putback on his own miss with 40 seconds left. The Greyhounds forced a turnover on the ensuring possession to set up Hendrix’s winning score.
The Greyhounds will be making their fifth state appearance. They’ll play Friday afternoon.
COLE 71, MARION 37
Senior guard Silas Livingston scored 29 points for the Cougars, who overwhelmed the Bulldogs at Seguin High School.
The Cougars (31-8) advance to the state tournament for the fourth straight year and will open defense of their 3A state title on Thursday afternoon.
It was Cole’s third victory over Marion (30-8), its District 26-3A rival, this season. The Cougars defeated the Bulldogs 55-43 on Jan. 8 and 70-49 on Jan. 28.