Clarendon’s Lamarcus Penigar is hoisted by his teammates after scoring a career-high 41 points to lead the Broncos past Lipan 65-51 in the UIL Class 2A state championship on Saturday in San Antonio’s Alamodome. [Matthew Smith/ For Press Pass Sports]
SAN ANTONIO— Under the brightest lights on the biggest stage in Texas High School basketball, Clarendon senior Lamarcus Penigar had a jaw dropping performance that won’t soon be forgotten anytime soon at the 2022 UIL state basketball tournament.
Penigar stole the show, electrifying a crowd of over 4,000 fans in the Alamodome with a complete takeover scoring 41 points that led Clarendon to its second straight UIL Class 2A state championship in a 65-51 win over previously unbeaten Lipan.
Penigar, the unanimous tournament MVP, is the first Class 2A player to break the 40-point mark since Jimmy Moore of Frankston accomplished that feat in 1964.
“What can I say,” Penigar said. “I got hot, I started feeling really good, and I wanted the ball. I was in a Kobe mode, where I just wanted to keep shooting the ball.”
Clarendon head coach Boston Hudson echoed Penigar’s comments.
“Lamarcus started doing Lamarcus things,” Hudson said. “He was so exciting to watch. I could feel the crowd getting into it. It was unreal.”
This game was eerily similar to the Broncos and Indians state semifinal matchup from a year ago when Clarendon beat Lipan 68-47.
Lipan controlled the first half with offensive rebounding, and put back opportunities to take a 24-16 lead into halftime. That advantage didn’t last three minutes into the third quarter. Senior guard Jordan Herndon knocked down back-to-back 3-points edging the Broncos closer. Then, it was the Lamarcus Penigar show. After getting in foul trouble in the first half scoring only eight points, the lightning quick Penigar dribbled through, and around Lipan defenders, drilling shot after shot that had the crowd roar more and more by the basket. Anytime Penigar crossed half court he was deadly knocking five 3-pointers in the third quarter alone, even adding a layup, scoring 17 points in eight minutes.
“Lipan started the game by doubling our post Jmaury Davis,” Hudson said. “In the third quarter we picked up our tempo, Lamarcus caught fire and they had to start guarding him and they couldn’t. It was so impressive what he was doing.”
Penigar tallied 33 of his career-high 41 points in the second half. The senior sharpshooter was 14-of-20 from the field, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.
“I just started looking for him,” Herndon said. “Anytime I had the ball, I just looked for Lamarcus because I knew he was on fire.”
Clarendon athletic director Clint Conkin hands the Broncos the UIL Class 2A state championship trophy Saturday in San Antonio’s Alamodome. [Matthew Smith/ For Press Pass Sports]
It’s easy to say Penigar loves the pressure of a state championship, and the atmosphere of the Alamodome. A year ago, Penigar had a key steal, and layup in the final 30 seconds that helped Clarendon to its first state championship defeating Grapeland.Penigar, along with Herndon and Cayden D’Costa are three special seniors that will leave
Clarendon as two-time state champions. Not only did Penigar have a massive effort, Herndon finished with six points, and D’Costa capped off a great state tournament with a double-double totaling 16 points with 10 boards.
“I didn’t even realize I had a double-double,” D’Costa said. “I was busy watching Lamarcus do his thing. But it feels great to play my last game and be a state champion. All the credit goes to coach Hudson. He pushes us to be our best.”
Clarendon ends another unbelievable year at 31-2 overall, while handing Lipan (39-1) its one and only loss on the season.
Clarendon had never won a state title in school history in any sport as of two years ago, and here the Broncos boys basketball team stands with a combined 58-4 overall since last year and two state basketball trophies to sitting in the showcase.
The Broncos also join elite company becoming only the sixth Texas Panhandle team to win consecutive state championships. Clarendon joins Pampa (1952-53; 1958-59), Dimmitt (1982-83), Paducah (1987-88), Nazareth (2002-03; 2006-2007), and Canadian (2014-2015) as back-to-back winners.
“This wasn’t an easy thing to accomplish,” Hudson said. “There is a lot of pressure to get not only back here, but win it all. It’s so hard, especially in this state. I’m just proud of these seniors to go out like this.”
For a complete look at the UIL Class 2A state championship boxscore, please visit https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/state-basketball/boxscores-boys/22bb2af.htm