In the history of the UIL boys basketball state tournament, there have been 12 teams that posted an undefeated state championship with at least 40 wins. On Saturday night, Plano East could be the 13th.
The #1 Panthers pulled away in the second half to beat Mansfield Lake Ridge 61-45 in the Class 6A state semifinals on Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. East will play in the state final at 830 pm Saturday.
It is the program’s second trip to state – first since 1994.
The Panthers lost to Fort Bend Willowridge 50-44 in the title game 30 years ago. It’s also the first state appearance for a boys team from Plano ISD since Plano West in 2015 when the Wolves won the title.
Lake Ridge was at state for the first time in program history.
The Eagles end with a 32-7 record. After finishing third in District 11-6A, Ridge beat Waxahachie in the regional quarterfinals. Then in their first regional tournament appearance, Ridge knocked off Houston Nimitz and Rockwall.
Plano East shot 24 of 54 from the field and hit seven three-pointers. The Panthers were +18 from the three-point line as Ridge struggled from deep going 1 of 12. The Eagles shot 42% from the field and 8 of 14 from the free throw line. They committed 16 turnovers and were out-rebounded by the Panthers 40-22 including 20-9 on the offensive glass.
East scored the first six points before Ridge hit its only three from Kenny White to cut the lead to 6-3 with 4:24 left in the first quarter. Amir McMillian hit a pull up jumper and it was tied at 9-9 at the end of the period.
Ridge took its first lead at 13-12 on a McMillian jumper with 6:38 on the clock in the second. Both teams traded shots down the stretch – with buckets from Plano East’s DJ Hall and Ridge’s Ahmare Rose. There were 10 lead changes in the quarter and Kenny White’s free throw put the Eagles up 22-20 with 3:21 left.
East led 26-22 at the intermission on a three and two-point bucket from Jordan Mizell.
The Panthers began to pull away in the third quarter -out-scoring the Eagles 20-10. They led 46-32 entering the fourth. Their largest lead was 56-38 with 3:35 left in the final stanza. Hall led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds and shot 7 of 16. Mizell chipped in 13 on 6 of 9 shooting. Narit Chotikavanic added 11.
Ridge was led by McMillian with 18 points on 9 of 18 shooting.
Rose had eight points and seven rebounds. White added eight and Matt Alexander finished with six.
