Clarendon’s Jmaury Davis drives in for a bucket against Vega during a Class 2A Area round game at the Joe Lombard Gymnasium on Friday night. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Class 5A
Randall gets by Andress
In the first game of a tripleheader at Andrews involving three District 3-5A teams, Randall became the first district team to advance to the region quarterfinals, as the Raiders took the lead for the final time in the final two minutes to gut out a 44-41 win over El Paso Andress.
Randall (19-16), who needed to beat Plainview in a play-in game to make the postseason, will now face fellow 3-5A and Bell Street rival Amarillo High next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at either First United Bank Center or Canyon High.
That means that it’s little surprise the Raiders had to battle so hard to advance. Their seven-point lead in the second quarter was the biggest lead for either team and they clung to a narrow lead for a good chunk of the game before Andress (21-12) caught up and eventually took a 41-39 lead late in the fourth quarter.
But with 1:50 left in the game, Randall’s Brody Wilson hit a 3-pointer for a 42-41 lead. Andress had three opportunities on the ensuing possession to take the lead but missed all three 3-point attempts before the Raiders secured a rebound.
Isaiah KIrkman hit a pair of free throws with five seconds left to give Randall a three-point lead, and a last-second 3-point attempt by Andress was well off the mark.
K.J. Thomas had a game-high 22 points for Randall, breaking the school’s single-season scoring record with 770 points. The previous record was 751 points by Keenan Hooker in 2000-01.
WIlson had 11 points for the Raiders.
Randall 13 25 31 44
EP Andress 12 20 25 41
R— K.J. Thomas 22, Brody Wilson 11. EPA— Jamal Williams 11, Isaac Padilla 10. Records: Randall 19-16; Andress 21-12.
Amarillo High routs Canutillo
No. 4 Amarillo High appropriately ended the 3-5A triple bill at Andrews in dominant fashion, as the Sandies took the lead early and held Canutillo scoreless in the third quarter to cruise to a 41-22 win, giving them their 30th victory of the season and a rematch with Randall in next week’s region quarterfinals.
While it was hardly a stellar offensive night for Amarillo High (30-6), the Sandies more than made up for it at the defensive end. After blanking Canutillo (16-16) in the third quarter, they held a 39-11 lead at the end of the third quarter, a lead so secure they could afford to only score two points in the fourth quarter.
Two players provided the bulk of the scoring for the Sandies. Cade Hornecker had a game-high 18 points, including 10 in the third quarter when AHS pulled away, and Brendan Hausen had 17, 15 of them in the first half.
Canutillo didn’t have a player in double figures.
Canutillo 7 11 11 22
Amarillo High 13 25 39 41
C— Gia G. 9, Joseph Martinez 7. AHS— Cade Hornecker 18, Brendan Hausen 17. Records: Canutillo 16-16; Amarillo High 30-6.
Palo Duro runs over Parkland
Palo Duro’s high-octane offense proved too much for El Paso Parkland to handle, as the Dons jumped out to a big early lead and coasted the rest of the way for an 89-57 win in the second game of a tripleheader at Andrews.
The Dons (25-6) will face El Paso Chapin next week in the region quarterfinals. This is the first time Palo Duro has been that far since 2019.
Palo Duro set the tone by taking a 32-17 lead in the first quarter. Parkland (27-7) never threatened after that.
The Dons had four players in double figures, led by Audi Luckey with 25 points. Paetyn Walker had 17 points, including 15 in the first half, while Kadden Price scored 16 and Cutter Camp added 15.
Khanye Bland led Parkland with 19 points and Isiah Medrano had 12.
EP Parkland 17 28 50 57
Palo Duro 32 47 70 89
EPP— Khanye Bland 19, Isiah Medrano 12. PD— Audi Luckey 25, Paetyn Walker 17, Kadden Price 16, Cutter Camp 15. Records: Parkland 27-7; Palo Duro 25-6.
Tascosa falls to Chapin
The Tascosa Rebels came close to making it a sweep for 3-5A, but they couldn’t hold the lead in the fourth quarter, as No. 12 El Paso Chapin came up big in the fourth quarter to defeat the Rebels 56-53 at Midland Christian.
Tascosa finished the season 14-16.
The Rebels held a narrow lead throughout most of the game. They led at the end of each of the first three quarters and were up 38-33 at the end of the third quarter.
But Antwonne Holmes came alive in the fourth quarter for Chapin (30-4), scoring 14 of his game-high 26 points to turn the tide in Chapin’s favor.
Daion Wilson led Tascosa with 17 points while Jailyn Sledge scored 13 and Izaiah Mendoza had 12.
EP Chapin 11 25 33 56
Tascosa 15 29 38 53
EPC— A. Holmes 26, M. Eddi 11. T— Daion Wilson 17, Jailyn Sledge 13, Izaiah Mendoza 12. Records: Chapin 30-4; Tascosa 14-16.
Class 4A
Hereford routs Andrews
Hereford is headed back to the third round of the postseason after dismantling Andrews 59-35 in a Class 4A Area round matchup in Shallowater on Friday night.
The Whitefaces (18-14) move on to the Regional Quarterfinals to play District 4-4A rival Dumas at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Tascosa Activity Center. Andrew ends its year at 23-10.
Hereford’s offense took control in the third quarter. Leading by 10 points at halftime, the Whitefaces got hot from the field building a 40-21 lead after three quarters, and blew the contest wide open in the final frame. Braedyn Mendoza led Hereford with 16 points, as teammates Marco Lucas and Kenyon Loftis tallied nine a piece.
Hereford 16 24 40 59
Andrews 6 14 21 35
H— Braedyn Mendoza 16, Marco Lucas 9, Kenyon Loftis 9, Tyi Duque 9. A— Andy Reyes 9. Records: Hereford 18-14; Andrews 23-10.
Dumas keeps on rolling
After not winning a playoff game in 51 years, the Dumas Demons keep rewriting the history books in 2022.
Dumas jumped all over San Elizario from the start and never looked back for a convincing 71-54 thumping in a Class 4A Area round clash Friday night in Seminole.
Cristian Kelso and Johnny Reynaga were the 1-2 punch for the Demons combining for 51 of their 74 points. Kelso dropped in a game-high 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor, while Reynaga went for 25 on 9-of-17 shooting from the perimeter.
Dumas improves to 26-6 overall and will square off with District 4-4A rival Hereford at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Tascosa Activity Center.
San Elizario ends the year at 23-11.
San Elizario 2 15 33 54
Dumas 12 34 49 71
D— Cristian Kelso 26, Johnny Reynaga 25. Records: San Elizario 23-11; Dumas 26-6.
Class 3A
Tulia takes down Tornillo
The Tulia Hornets road the hot hands Travon McCaslin and Adrian Brookings to outscore Tornillo for an 84-72 Class 3A Area round game on Friday night in Monahans.
McCaslin and Brookings went off against the Coyotes combining for 52 of the Hornets 84 points. McCaslin capped off an amazing week. During Tuesday’s 67-42 win against Spearman, the junior put up 37 points. McCaslin followed that effort with 28 points against Tornillo combining for 65 points in the past two games. Brookings got hot from beyomd the arc cashing in on five first half 3-pointers, finishing the night with six total for 24 points.
The Hornets (26-8) head to the regional quarterfinals for a showdown with District 2-3A rival Abernathy at a time and place to be determined.
Tulia 15 31 56 84
Tornillo 16 28 51 72
Tu— McCaslin 28, Brookings 24, Franco 10.
Records: Tulia 26-8; Tornillo 15-4.
Class 2A
Clarendon shakes off Vega
Vega did everything it could to stay with No. 2 Clarendon, but in the end the Broncos showed why they are the defending state champions running away for a 86-65 victory during a Class 2A Area round contest at the Joe Lombard Gymnasium in Canyon on Friday.
Longhorn senior guard Ryan Grawunder had a night to remember dropping in a career-high 42 points to help keep Vega (15-14) in the game as long as they could. The Longhorns trailed only 44-37 at the break, then the Broncos decided to turn it up a level exploding in the third quarter behind junior Jmaury Davis and senior Lamarcus Penigar. Clarendon went off in the third quarter outscoring the Longhorns 28-7 to open up a commanding 72-43 advantage. Davis poured in a game-high 28 points, followed by Penigar’s 20. Cayden D’Costa chipped in 13.
Clarendon (26-2) has won nine straight playoff games dating back to last year. The Broncos advance to play Gruver at a time and place to be determined.
Vega 17 37 43 65
Clarendon 18 44 72 86
V— Ryan Grawunder 42, Sennvia 5. C— Jmaury Davis 28, Lamarcus Penigar 20, Kayden D’Costa 13, Smith 12. Records: Vega 15-14. Clarendon 26-2.
Gruver grinds out win over Farwell
The Gruver Greyhounds jumped ahead and stayed ahead in a grind it out 61-55 win against Farwell during a Class 2A Area round matchup Friday night in Littlefield.
Colton Millsap and Jefferson Weaver gave the Greyhounds a quick start putting up 16 of the teams first 30 point.
Gruver used the scoring effort to take an early 16-13 lead after one, but it was the defense that created a size able advantage for the Greyhounds as Farwell fell behind 50-33 heading into the final quarter.
Leo Nunez did his best to pull the Steers back in it. Farwell rallied cutting the lead at 59-55 with under a minute to play, however, couldn’t come any closer with Gruver making clutch free-throws to put the game away. Millsap led Gruver with 19 points, followed by Weaver’s 18. Nunez had a game-high 21 for Farwell (24-8).
Gruver (25-8) advances to the regional quarterfinals to face the defending Class 2A state champion Clarendon at a time and place to be determined.
Gruver 16 30 50 61
Farwell 13 20 33 55
G— Millsap 19, Weaver 18. F— Nunez 21, Gaxiloa 7. Records: Gruver 25-8; Farwell 24-8.
New Deal ends Stratford’s season
A strong second half from the New Deal Lions was enough was enough to sink Stratford 56-41 during a Class 2A Area round matchup at the Joe Lombard Gymnasium in Canyon on Friday.
Stratford, the reigning Class 2A Division II state football champions, ends a short but superb season at 13-4. The Lions (26-6) advance to the regional quarterfinals to face ??
New Deal led a tight game just 21-19 at the half, however, took over in the second half thanks to a 21-10 run in the third quarter. Jason Lacy was tough for the Elks to stop pouring in 16 points. Bryce Braden led Stratford with 13.
Stratford 6 21 31 41
New Deal 15 19 41 56
S— Bryce Braden 13, Cody Rinne 11, Tony Duran 11. ND— Jason Lacy 16, Kendrick Nelson 14
Levic Eaton 10. Records: Stratford 13-4; New Deal 26-6,
Olton ends Wellington’s season
Wellington gave Olton all it had, however, the Mustangs proved too much ending the Skyrockets year with a 71-54 win in the Class 2A Area round in Levelland on Friday.
Wellington ends its season at 17-11 overall.
Olton improves to 31-3 and will play New Deal in the regional quarterfinals at a time and place to be determined.
The Skyrockets played strong in the first half, trailing by three after one, and 39-34 at half. But Olton proved how good its been all year behind Chris Urbina as they took off in the second half. Urbina had 16 points to lead the Mustang. Wellington’s Bryant Tarver also had 16.
Wellington 20 34 43 54
Olton 23 39 56 71
W— Bryant Tarver 16 Jordan Nation 15. O— C. Urbina 16, Soliz 13, N. Urbina 12. Records: Wellington 17-11; Olton 31-3.
Class 1A
Wildorado outlasts Booker in thriller
The Wildorado Mustangs pulled out a 61-58 overtime thriller in a tightly contested matchup with Booker during a Class 1A Area round clash Friday night at West Texas High in Stinnett.
It was a close contest throughout as Wildorado was never able to take a lead bigger than five points at the end of each quarter.
On the offensive end, it was Dustin Bryant leading all scorers with 25 points for the Mustangs. On the defensive end, the game plan was to limit Booker standout Leo Banuelos, as the Mustangs tried their best, holding Banuelos to 10 points. Booker found more fire power from Diego Hernandez who finished his night with 18 points behind five 3-pointers.
The Mustangs were able to hold on despite going 12-of-26 from the charity stripe.
Wildorado (27-7) is back in the regional quarterfinals for a second straight year to play District 3-1A rival Nazareth at a time and place to be determined.
Wildorado 12 25 40 51 61
Booker 9 21 35 51 58
W— Bryant 25, Cleavinger 16. B— Hernandez 18, Ramirez 13, Banuelos 10. Records: Wildorado 27-7; Booker 21-10.
Springlake-Earth sinks Silverton
Springlake-Earth moved on to the third round of the postseason in dominate fashion blowing past Silverton 61-38 in a Class 1A Area round game Friday at Randall High School.
The Wolverines (18-7) move on to the regional quarterfinals for a matchup with the reigning Class 1A state champion Texline Tornadoes (30-3) at 7 p.m. Monday at the Palo Duro Activity Center.
Sawyer Francis and the Owls did their best to until the Wolverines turned it up to another level in the second half holding Silverton to just 21 points while putting up 38 of their own on the offensive end.
Evan DeLeon led Earth with 17 in the contest, but it was Francis that led all scores with 18 in his final game of the season.
Springlake-Earth 12 23 38 61
Silverton 4 17 23 38
SLE— DeLeon 17, Holmes 15, Castillo 12. S—Francis 18. Records: Springlake-Earth 18-7; Silverton 13-12.
Contributors
Tommy King
Lee Passmore
Kale Steed