BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
Making the state championship for the third straight year, Waco La Vega was seeking a three-peat, but Decatur spoiled those plans.
Decatur held La Vega to 23% shooting including 1 of 14 from behind the arc and the Eagles won their first girls basketball state title, 53-41 during the Class 4A Division 1 final on Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Bralyn Peck was voted state champ MVP with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks. Sayler Beck added 13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.
Decatur (36-2) made the final four for the second time in program history and first since 1961. The Eagles lost in the semis against Spearman that season.
The Eagles led 4-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Cece Davis and a free throw by Sayler Beck. Meanwhile, La Vega missed four field goals and two free throws during that stretch.
Sayler Peck made two layups and Bralyn added one to give Decatur a 10-4 lead at the 1:37 mark. The Eagles led 12-7 after the opening period.
The lead got up to 12 late in the second quarter on back-to-back layups by London Gilbreath and Sayler Peck. After a three-point play by La Vega, Sayler Peck hit another layup and Decatur led 25-16 at the intermission.
La Vega only managed to pull within seven points in the third.
Davis beat the buzzer with a jumper and Decatur was up 38-27 entering the final quarter. La Vega opened the fourth with a miss and Bralyn Peck quickly got the rebound and started the fast break, leading into a 3-pointer from Style Brazile and it was 41-27.
Reese Christian added a layup with 4:50 to play and Decatur was up 45-27. Two free throws by Brazile and the Eagles were ahead 20 points.
The Eagles shot 50% from the field (20-40) and 5 of 9 from three.
Decatur beat Mabank 53-34 in the semis. The Eagles rallied to beat Canyon 42-37 in the Region 1 title game. After losing to 6A Denton Guyer 54-49 on Nov. 9, the program ended the year with 33 straight wins. Decatur’s other loss was against 6A Cy Springs 41-37 on Nov. 8.
