MIDLAND – The Andress High School boys basketball team saw its season end in the Class 5A, Division 2 regional semifinals, but not without a fight.
The Eagles were down 20-4 after one quarter vs. defending state champion, Mansfield Summit, then rallied to pull within six points before falling 63-46 on Tuesday at Midland Christian High School.
Andress finishes 24-10 with two playoff wins, while the Jaguars improve to 30-6 and advance to the regional final vs. Burges scheduled for March 5, 6 or 7.
How Mansfield Summit got the win
The Jaguars outscored the Eagles, 20-4, in the first quarter and made 9 of 10 shots in the process. The Eagles also had seven first quarter turnovers.
After the Eagles closed the gap to 38-32 in the third quarter, the Jaguars closed out the game by outscoing Andress 25-14.
Guard Joseph Creal III scored 19 points and fellow guard Jaxon Sneed added 10 points to help lead the Jaguars on offense. They have now gone four rounds deep in the UIL playoffs six years in a row.
How Andress got back unto the game and top performers
The Eagles settled down on defense and held the Jaguars to 24 points combined in quarters two and three and trailed just 44-34 entering the fourth quarter.
Toraino Johnson, Jr. led Andress with 14 points, Carmyne Mychackavane scored seven fourth quarter points and Domiinic Valenzuela, Damien Ortega and Curtis Hargrave each made important 3-pointers.
Johnson had three big playoff performances, including 23 points vs. Abilene Wylie and a game-winning shot vs. Bel Air.
What Andress coach Eugene Costello said
“We fought hard, we settled down after the first quarter,” Costello said. “Mansfield Summit is a physical team and shot the ball well. We had some possessions that we rushed and we’ll learn from that. When we picked up our defensive intensity, we did a lot of good things.”
What Andress players Damien Ortega and Toraino Johnson, Jr. said
“I feel in the playoffs, we we’re a lot more together and showed more maturity,” Johnson, Jr. said.
Added Ortega: “I thought overall we did good. I thought we coulld have done better at the start. I’m proud of our guys, we showed a lot of heart.”
Looking ahead for Andress
The Eagles will move to Class 4A next year and will be contenders for a deep run in the state playoffs led by the return of Johnson, Jr., Hargrave, Ortega and Mychackavane.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso’s Andress High School boys basketball team sees season end
Reporting by Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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