11AM - Nick Finnegan Spring Invitational, St. John's
11:00am - 2:00pm Field Events
3:00pm - 6:00pm running events
11:00am - 2:00pm Field Events
3:00pm - 6:00pm running events
Setting out to make a name for themselves this season, the South Grand Prairie Lady Warriors set high goals for themselves at the start of the season. Showcasing their ability to work hard and keep their opponents at bay, the Lady Warriors recorded a strong regular season before continuing their journey through the playoffs.
Opening their season with six consecutive victories over Monterey, Fort Worth Dunbar, Frisco, Dallas Skyline, Little Elm, and Argyle, the Lady Warriors came into the year ready to take down anyone who got in their way of a successful season. Despite dropping three games through non-district play, the team continued to put forth a strong effort to take down their opponents as they headed into their district play.
Through district play, the Lady Warriors recorded an undefeated 15-0 record to finish at the top of their district standings. Defeating the likes of Haltom, Arlington Lamar, Arlington Martin, Sam Houston, Grand Prairie, Bowie, and others, there was zero doubt as the team prepared to enter the playoffs on a high note.
Led by incredible athletes like Anyla Herbert, Erica Carr, Aniya Jackson, Adhel Tac, Taliyah Parker, and other talented athletes, the Lady Warriors showcased remarkable leadership on the hardwood through the playoffs as they took down Richardson J.J. Pearce, Denton Bradwell, Southlake Carroll, and Boswell with fidelity to earn their spot in the UIL Class 6A Basketball State Tournament.
Ready for a challenge with a resume to already be proud of this season, the Lady Warriors will face off against a tough San Antonio Brennan (32-2) at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1st.
It's all come down to this.
Months of training and adulation have finally lead the best of the best to this point -- the UIL State Championship.
With elite programs, such as Summer Creek, Duncanville, Liberty, and Randle -- not to mention their fan-bases in tow -- heading to San Antonio, it's time to break down the key matchups of the girls basketball State Tournament.
...
The stars of 2023-24 Summer Creek Girls Basketball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
After being eliminated by Pearland (39-26) in the 2023 Regional Final, Summer Creek proceeded to make a statement by escalating to the Class 6A Final Four, under the direction of first-year head coach Donny Ott.
This marks the team's third appearance in the UIL State Tourney over the past five seasons, which is a testament to the talent they bring onto the court.
Now, the Bulldogs (35-3; 13-1 in district) have the opportunity to surpass their 2022 result of finishing as a State Qualifier, when they face Duncanville (33-4; 13-1 in district) this Friday, at 7:00 pm, in the San Antonio Alamodome.
Ott will turn to his vast arsenal of weapons -- namely Janiya Murphy, Kennedy Simpson, Zachara Perkins, and Mariyah Brown -- in order to keep their current 18-game win-streak alive.
On the Panthers' side, coach Neiman Ford and company are coming off crucial victories against Cy Springs (48-40) and DeSoto (46-39) in the Region-II Tournament.
D'Ville flexes the talents of Mariah Clayton (14 ppg, 6 rpg), Chloe Mann (13 ppg, 4 apg), and Kaylinn Kemp (12 ppg, 2 apg).
These two teams have already met each other at a tournament exhibition in November, in which Summer Creek claimed a 63-53 victory.
Rest assured, this could be the most pivotal match-up of the whole tournament.
The stars of 2023-24 Randle Girls Basketaball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
What a year it has been for Randle girls hoops.
In just their third season as a varsity program in the Lamar Consolidated ISD, the Lions (30-8; 13-1 in district) took District 20-5A by storm, prior to cruising all the way to San Antonio.
Coach Christy Westbrooks and co. defeated both Hendrickson (59-55) and Barbers Hill (38-34) at the Region-III tournament, which extends their win-streak to 21.
The talents of Alaysia Cook (14 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg), Jaziel King (11 ppg, 2 apg), and Kurynn McNeill (10 ppg, 6 rpg) have propelled Randle to new heights, as they look to continue re-writing the history books.
It's the fact that the Lions know how to win the close games that is essential, as that will likely be the case when they face-off against the reigning Class 5A champs Liberty.
The Frisco Liberty Redhawks (32-7; 14-0 in district) enter the UIL State Tournament yet again, on the heels of winning versus McKinney North (69-52) and Princeton (52-26) in Region-II.
Sophomore super-star Jacy Abii has been a key component to coach Ross Reedy's group, alongside the reigning 5A MVP Keyera Roseby, and junior Aziyah Farrier.
Whichever way this game ends up going, it could be a safe assumption that the victor will likely end up claiming the State crown.
There’s no doubt that last year’s Houston Christian team was the best that audiences have witnessed on the softball diamond in recent memory.
The Mustangs finished the 2023 season with a final record of 18-12, highlighted by an appearance in the SPC State Championship, in which they ultimately fell to fellow powerhouse Episcopal.
That narrow defeat is still fresh in the minds of coach Cassidy Bowen and her team, which feeds into the mentality they possess this Spring.
“We expected our team to make a run for it and play in that game (SPC Championship) last year,” she said. “This year, we’re expecting to go and win that game. We’re back and we didn’t graduate anybody off that team. We’re not going to compete anymore, we’re going to win.”
All-SPC selections Jadyn Granere (Sr. C), MC Been (Jr. CF/1B), and Emily Thompson (Sr. 3B) return to the lineup, and will be complemented efficiently by the talents of Maddie Pickett (Jr. SS), Riley Warnica (Sr. OF/P), and junior 2B Lily Herveat, just to name a few.
“The difference between this year and others is the fact that we just don’t have a weak spot in the lineup,” said Bowen. “Everybody, top to bottom, puts a bat on the ball and can hit with power.”
Their lack of any discernible weaknesses should put the Mustangs in prime position to fulfill their team’s ultimate motivation.
“Our motto for this year’s team is ‘Burn the Ships’,” Bowen said. “We want to leave it all on the field. The senior class this year has been the group that has built what Houston Christian Softball is today, and we’re trying to give them a send-off in a big way.”
With a 6-2 start to the season – highlighted by exceptional initial performances by the aforementioned Granere, Been, and Warnica – it would appear that HCHS is certainly starting off on the right foot.
April’s SPC Championship is already within throwing distance for Coach Bowen and company.
Join the #VYPETEAM
Get up to date news from all over the country!