Finals set for girls state basketball tournament

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The final spots for Saturday's state championship games were on the line Friday. The second day of the girls state basketball tournament continued with action in Class 1A-Division II and Class 2A and 5A.

• Click here for Thursday's scores

Class 1A-Division II
Saltillo blasted past Roscoe Highland and into the title game with a 41-19 victory. The Lions roared out of the gates, leading 13-2 after the first quarter and by 14 at the half. Roscoe was held to single-digits until the fourth quarter. Kendall Bain scored a game-high 14 for Saltillo, and Adrea Tippit finished with nine points. Beth Richburg led Roscoe with six.

Whitharral grabbed a 21-10 lead following the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 58-45 win. The Panthers were anchored by Taylor Moore who finished with 27 points and seven rebouds. Kalicia McCoy added 13 and Mia Ochoa finished with 12 points. Sarah Reagor had a team-high 22 points for Leakey.

Whitharral (37-4) and Saltillo (32-5) will meet up in the finals. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Class 2A
Brock and Merkel each punched their ticket to the Class 2A championship game with wins on Friday morning.

Brock (34-5) advanced with a 42-23 win over Centerville. In a low-scoring battle, the Eagles led 17-6 at the half and held Centerville to just 10 points going into the fourth quarter. Brock was led by Cora Jenkins with 13 points. Taylor Wallace and Braylee Flaska each chipped in with nine.

Merkel bounced back after sluggish third quarter, outscoring Poth 20-14 in the fourth quarter en route to a 56-47 win. The Badgers led by 10 at half, but were outscored 12-5 in the third and went into the final frame with a narrow three-point lead. Allison Szabo paced the way for Merkel with 15 points. Ciara Cope had 11 and Macy Mays finished with 10 points. Ashley Fuller scored a game-high 18 in a losing effort for Poth.

Brock and Merkel will play Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for the title.

Class 5A
After leading by just four at the break, Duncanville dominated the second half, winning 64-40 . The Pantherettes outscored League City Clear Springs 37-17 in the final 16 minutes on their way to a 24-point win. Ariel Atkins scored a game-high 29 points. Tamara Washington and Kiara Perry finished with 11 and Antoina Robinson scored 10. Clear Springs was led by Courtnie Latham with 16 points.

For the second straight season, Pflugerville made it through their schedule unscathed up to the state tournament. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead, but Cibolo Steele mounted a rally after trailing by five at the half. Steele outscored Plugerville 44-31 in the second half, and went on to win 69-60 . McKenzie Calvery paced the way for Steele with 17 points. Erika Chapman and Jade Brady both added 12. Taylor Ross finished with a game-high 18 points for Pflugerville.


Saturday’s championship schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Class 1A Div. I (Smyer vs. Martin’s Mill)
10 a.m. – Class 3A (Mexia vs. Kennedale)
1:30 p.m. – Class 2A (Brock vs. Merkel)
3 p.m. – Class 4A (Dallas Lincoln vs. Georgetown)
7 p.m. – Class 1A Div. II (Saltillo vs. Whitharral)
8:30 p.m. – Class 5A (Duncanville vs. Steele)