CLASS 3 A GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
The Class 3A state quarterfinals were held Wednesday at State Fair Arena. Here's a quick recap of the games.
Kellyville 58, Kingston 52
Jade Upshaw knew she was one foul away from fouling out of the game.
But she also knew her Kellyville teammates needed her to be aggressive. With the clock winding down, Kellyville had a 1-point lead and Kingston had the possession.
Kingston made a pass and Upshaw saw an opportunity, even though it was risky.
“I was like, `If I go for it, it can be a foul, I might foul out, this could be a horrible decision,” Upshaw said. “But I was like I have to try.”
The Arkansas State signee reached out and deflected the ball into her possession. She drove down the lane and scored through the foul to seal the game. The Kellyville crowd went into a frenzy and Upshaw sported a big smile as her teammates gave her approval.
In the state tournament quarterfinals, Upshaw scored 38 points to lead Kellyville past Kingston 58-52 at State Fair Arena on Wednesday.
“I just knew I had to have the ball in my hand,” Upshaw said. “I trusted in my teammates and they trusted in me and we got it done today.”
The game-sealing steal wasn't her best play on Wednesday. Just before the third-quarter buzzer, Upshaw ran and fired a shot from the other teams' 3-point line. The shot fell through the cylinder leaving Upshaw in shock and
many of those in attendance in stunned.
“I had the ball and I said, `I usually shoot the last shot so why not go ahead and shoot that,” Upshaw said. “And I did and I had no idea that would go in. I was just in complete shock.”
Kellyville advances to the
state semifinals where it'll take on Roland at 8 p.m.
Roland 64, Valliant 25
Racheal Watie received the pass on her way to the rim.
In the final seconds of the second quarter, Waite laid the ball up for another score.
Roland had jumped to a hot start and it had much to do with her effort.
As Watie left the court for halftime, she had 21 points and Roland had a comfortable 30-point lead. Roland outmatched Valliant to take a 64-25 win in the Class 3A state quarterfinal matchup at State Fair Arena. Watie finished with 24 points.
“She's a gamer,” Roland coach Greg Pratt said of the lone junior in his rotation. “She makes plays and the thing is she plays on both ends of the floor. Game in, game out, she's going to be guarding some of the other teams' best players. She's a great two-way player for us.”
Roland, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, held Valliant to just a 6-point first quarter and a 2-point second. The defensive performance allowed Roland to coast to an easy win and keep its perfect 20-0 record this season.
“Something we try to pride ourselves on, day in and day out is our defense, rebounding, toughness and communication,” Pratt said. “That's something we want to hang our hat on every single night. We shot great tonight but we may not hit two or three 3's Friday night. But if we play great defense we're going to be in the ballgame.”