By Brian Gosset
FORT WORTH – With 17 seconds left and down two, North Crowley’s Kameron Price was fouled hard and had to go to the bench. Duncanville coach Neiman Ford had a decision to make – who was going to the free-throw line? He selected senior Tyler Hastings to shoot both attempts.
Hastings missed both tries, but on his second attempt, North Crowley picked up the offensive rebound – the ball going to Alex Barther II. Barther swung it out to Hastings on the right wing and the senior guard drained the go-ahead 3-pointer to put North Crowley up 50-49 with 14 seconds remaining.
Duncanville missed a floater on the next possession and after two made free throws by Jonathan Fox, North Crowley went on to win by three – knocking off the defending champs in the Class 6A D1 state semifinals on Tuesday night at Wilkerson-Greines Center.
North Crowley advances to its first title appearance since 2008 and will play San Antonio Brennan at the Alamodome, 5 pm on Saturday.
Brennan hung on to beat Humble Atascocita 63-61 on Tuesday night.
The two teams went back-and-forth while trading scores in the first quarter. There were five lead changes in the period as Duncanville was ahead 15-14 after eight minutes.
Duncanville got a bucket with seconds left to grab the lead.
Barther scored for North Crowley and drew the foul as the game was knotted at 16-16 with 6:44 to play in the period. Fox made two free throws to put NC up 18-17 with 4:20 on the clock.
Fox added an offensive put back to go up 20-17 a minute later.
But Duncanville’s defense held NC scoreless for the final 3:25 of the half and went into the intermission nursing a 21-20 edge. Jordan Brooks had a nifty assist that resulted in a Kaden Harris layup and then Chris Hunt Jr’s three throws put Duncanville on top with 54 seconds left in the half.
Duncanville scored seven straight points in the third quarter and led 33-28. Duncanville would own a 38-34 lead going into the fourth.
Trey Hall’s 3-pointer gave North Crowley a 39-38 lead with 5:57 left in the game. North Crowley still led 43-42 midway through the frame.
Duncanville went ahead 48-47 on a Hunt layup with 1:14 left.
North Crowley missed a game-tying layup before fouling Duncanville twice with 21 seconds. But Duncanville missed both shots at the line – leaving it 49-47.
Hall led all players with 18 points. Barther and Isaak Hayes added 11 points apiece.
Hunt Jr. led Duncanville with 12.
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Mansfield Summit 52, Lucas Lovejoy 35
A 13-2 run in the fourth quarter pushed the Jaguars past the Leopards in the Class 5A D2 state semifinals on Tuesday night at SMU.
Summit is back in the state title game for the second straight season and will look for back-to-back championships when the Jags take on Beaumont United at 1 pm Saturday from the Alamodome.
The Jags had a 6-point edge going into the fourth quarter and quickly grew it to 11 when Jaxon Sneed scored off a 3-pointer and fast break dunk.
Lovejoy ended its deepest playoff run in program history.
Also helping pull Summit away in the final frame was freshman Joesph Creal III, who scored seven of his 11 points in the period.
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Little Elm 60, Cy-Springs 51
The Lobos continue their historic run after taking down Cy-Springs in the Class 6A D2 state semifinals on Tuesday night at Waco Midway.
Little Elm will play in its first title game, 7 pm Saturday against Austin Westlake at the Alamodome.
Kensington Candler led all players with 19 points for Little Elm while Joshua Weems scored 12 of his 18 points after the intermission.
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Frisco Heritage 65, Birdville 63
4-star SMU signee Cameron Lomax hit a 5-foot floater with 1.4 seconds left as the Coyotes edged out the Hawks in the Class 5A D1 state semifinals on Tuesday night at Hebron.
Heritage, which is in the first title game for any Frisco ISD team, will play Beaumont West Brook at 11 am Saturday in San Antonio.
The Coyotes avenged their loss when Birdville won in the semis last season.
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Dallas Carter 52, Brock 44
Amarion Hunter and Terrell Jackson combined for 32 points as the Cowboys survived the Eagles in the Class 4A D2 state semifinals on Tuesday night at Arlington ISD Center.
Carter will take on La Marque in the title game at 7 pm Friday at the Alamodome.
Brock led 37-36 early in the fourth quarter, but Carter went on a 10-3 run. Hunter scored a team-high 18 points while Jackson added 14.
This is Carter’s first title appearance since 2018 while the Cowboys are going for their first championship.
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Paradise 38, Henrietta 35
Cooper Jones hit a contested 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and send the Panthers to the title game for the second year in a row.
Paradise will play Palestine Westwood in the 3A D2 championship at 1 pm Friday in San Antonio. The Panthers will be searching for their first title after falling to Kountze in last year’s final.
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Class 4A D1
Dallas Kimball 67, Canyon West Plains 53
Class 3A D1
Dallas Madison 78, Brownfield 71
Class 2A D2
Lipan 63, Gruver 53
