By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
Decatur led by double digits in the first quarter and then coasted to a 78-59 win over Prosper Richland in a Class 4A Division I state semifinal on Tuesday night at Denton High School.
The Eagles (36-4), No. 1 in the 4A rankings according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, extended their winning streak 24 games.
Decatur looks to defend its 4A D1 title in a rematch against No. 7 Waco La Vega (28-11), which knocked off San Antonio Davenport 62-33 on Tuesday night. Decatur beat La Vega 53-41 last year to win the program’s first championship.
The two teams will play for the 4A D1 title at 5 pm Friday from the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Last season marked its first trip to the state semifinals in 64 years.
Against Richland, Decatur scored nine of the first 11 points and then led 16-6 with 2:11 left in the opening period. Sayler Peck hit a jumper just inside the arc that pushed the lead to 20-8 a minute later.
Oklahoma State signee Bralyn Peck, last year’s state championship game MVP, scored on an offensive putback and Decatur led 37-28 at the intermission.
The lead was as much as 17 in the third quarter following a three-point play from Bralyn Peck, who scored a game-high 22 points.
Three other players scored in double figures: Style Brazile with 18 followed by Laken Coffman (15) and Sayler Peck (12).
Richland ends at 35-5 during its inaugural season.
