However, Jayton took a two-point lead at the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter to hold off the Tornadoes, 51-46, at the Texan Dome on the campus of South Plains College.
A nip and tuck game that saw neither team take more than a six-point lead until the final 30 seconds played out exactly how many expected it would. A matchup of number No. 2-ranked Jayton and No. 4 Texline had all the makings of an epic clash and neither team disappointed.
“I thought our guys gave it everything they had” Texline head coach Coby Beckner said. “I told them there was nothing to be disappointed in at all, they gave it everything.”
After winning a state title in 2021 and a runner-up finish in 2022, the Tornadoes were looking to make it three out of four years they would visit the Alamo City.
Hayden Drumm drained a 3-pointer from the right corner midway through the second quarter giving Texline a 19-17 lead that they would hold until the final seven minutes of the fourth.
Down the stretch Texline cut the lead to one before Sean Stanaland drove and was fouled to move the lead to 44-40 deep in the game. On the next possession, Salazar was fouled and made one of two from the line giving Jayton a 45-40 lead with 1:06 left in the game.
Joe Clay then answered for the Tornadoes burying a right wing shot from behind the arc to pull Texline to within 45-43. That’s when Colt Gentry quickly took the ball to the other end and scored two of his game high 18 points to extend the lead back out to four.
After quickly getting the ball in the front court, the 6-foot-1 Drumm attempted a step back three that Salazar partially blocked with thirty seconds left to effectively seal the deal for Jayton.
“I felt like we were in control for two plus quarters,” Beckner said. “We had some empty possessions and missed opportunities kept us from widening the lead. Down the stretch, Stanalad and Gentry just went and got it. Gentry drove coast to coast on us a couple of times and just made shots. Our effort was there but give Jayton credit because Coach (Ryan) Bleiker does a great job.”
Texline ended their remarkable season at 31-6.
Drumm led the balanced scoring for the Tornadoes with 14 points while Hayden Alston and Joe Clay had 13 each. Stanaland backed up Gentry with 15 points as the two combined for 13 points in the final stanza for Jayton.
Jayton (36-3) moves on to the UIL Class 1A state tournament where they will play Fayetteville (32-5) at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.