Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

MANSFIELD – The Gordon Longhorns won a football state championship in December. Three months later, some of those same players are now playing for a state basketball title.

That became possible after the eighth-ranked ‘Horns outscored the top-ranked and two-time defending Class 1A champion Graford Jackrabbits 11-3 in overtime to win the Region III title, 42-34, sending Gordon to San Antonio to play for a state basketball championship for the first time in school history.

Gordon (21-6) and Benjamin will play in the state semifinal at 8:30 a.m. Thursday inside the Alamodome. The Mustangs (23-1) claimed the 1A-Region II title by defeating Clyde Eula, 57-44.

The other Class 1A state semifinal will pit Jayton (36-3) against Fayetteville (32-5) in a scheduled 10 a.m. tipoff. The Class 1A final is 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

All state championship games can be watched online, with a yearly or monthly subscription, on the NFHS Network at this link.

In a tight defensive battle throughout the first three periods, it looked as though Gordon’s hopes were dashed early in the fourth as Graford took an eight-point lead, 31-23. But Riley Reed and Aiden Shank each hit three-pointers and Brayden Walters canned a two as the ‘Horns scored the final eight points to force overtime

It was all Gordon in OT. Walters made an old-fashioned three-pointer on a made basket and free throw. The Longhorns sank eight free throws – four each from Reed and Shank – to pull away. Graford’s only overtime points came on a Connor Waters three-pointer.

The Palo Pinto County schools played to a 7-7 tie after the first period, with Graford taking an 18-14 lead into halftime. Graford maintained that four-point edge going into the fourth before scoring the first four points of the final frame and enjoying its biggest lead at eight. It was at that point that the ‘Rabbits thoughts of a championship three-peat began to fade as Gordon battled back to tie the contest and force OT.

Reed led all scorers with 21 points, draining two second half three pointers to go with four first-half field goals. He added a third-period bucket to go with five made free throws, including his four in OT.

Shank also scored in double digits with 10. Walters added five points, Stryker Reed produced four and Juan Cabrera had a first-quarter basket.

Graford senior post Brad Lemley led the ‘Rabbits with 12 points. Mac Lemley scored nine and Christian Shea produced eight points. Waters had three on his lone made shot and Cye Lemley rounded out Graford’s scoring with a field goal.

Gordon’s win avenged last year’s 61-37 regional semifinal loss to the more experienced and defending champion Jackrabbits. Saturday’s loss ended Graford’s season with a 33-5 mark, and ends their competition in Class 1A as the school will compete in Class 2A next season.