BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
FORT WORTH – After coming up short of a state semifinal appearance last season, the Mansfield Summit boys basketball team made sure it was going back on Friday.
With a strong defensive effort in the first half and a physical advantage in the paint, the Jaguars defeated Colleyville Heritage 59-43 in their Class 5A D2 regional final at Wilkerson Greines Activity Center.
Heritage ends 19-16.
Summit, #6 in the TABC Class 5A state rankings, is headed to the final four for the second time in three seasons. The Jags (31-7) lost to Killen Ellison in the 2023 semis.
Now they set up a rematch with Ellison early next week with a spot in the championship game on the line. The winner advances to the 5A D2 title game next Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Ellison outlasted Waco University in three overtimes on Friday.
“It’s going to be something for us for sure,” said Summit junior Theo Brannan, who had 14 points. “They knocked us out my freshman year and I’ve been waiting two years to get back to this.
“The goal is always to win state. We had that drive the whole time and this was a big win for us. They’re a good shooting team. We stuck to our game plan and played hard.”
“Definitely motivated us,” Summit coach Emund Prichett added of last year’s regional semifinal loss vs Amarillo. “They had a sour taste in their mouth and the next day, the kids were back in the gym working.”
Caleb Richard had a hot hand for Summit in the opening period. He nailed two 3-pointers and scored 10 points as the Jaguars ran out to a 14-2 lead through the first eight minutes of the game.
The Panthers continued to struggle in the second quarter, managing only five points.
Summit owned a 27-7 advantage at the intermission.
Sam Getnet found Javon Ross down low with seconds left on the clock. Richard had 14 by the break.
Heritage started to hit its shots with a three and reverse layup by Camden Coburn. Both teams traded threes from Brannan and Cash Gardner and Summit led by 21 going into the final period.
Gardner scored 19 points to lead the Panthers – all in the second half.
He hit six 3-pointers, including four in row in the fourth quarter.
Ian Sedah also had 14 and added a game-high 11 rebounds for the Jaguars.
“That’s what we do. We get in the paint. Ian and Isaiah [Walker] and all our bigs just try to be aggressive,” Prichett said. “The guards getting the ball to them and being unselfish.”
“I love giving it to the big guys in the paint,” Brannan added. “I know if I give it to Ian, it’s always going to be a bucket.”
