Wall girls basketball’s defense smothered Central Heights in a 49-34 win in the Class 3A Division II state championship game, securing the Lady Hawks’ third state title Friday, March 6 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The Lady Hawks’ title joins the baseball and football programs as the third state championship from Wall athletics in the last 12 months.
Sophomore guard Jewles Johnson was named the game’s MVP after scoring nine points, hauling in 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block.
The Lady Hawks (39-3) led from start to finish against the Lady Blue Devils (32-6), taking their largest lead of 23 points halfway through the fourth quarter. Their vaunted defense held Central Heights to 11-of-51 from the field, 3-of-19 from beyond the 3-point arc and forced 16 turnovers.
McKenzie Lopez was Wall’s leading scorer with 11 points. She had an efficient shooting performance, finishing 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. The junior guard also racked up four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Even with a few scoring droughts, Wall varied its offensive attack as eight players saw the ball go through the basket. The team finished shooting 38% from the field and from beyond the 3-point line, and even with a significant height disadvantage, they won the rebound battle 38-37.
Central Heights got to the free-throw line 15 times, sinking 9-of-15 attempts. Sophomore guard Peaches Gallien was the game’s leading scorer with 15 points, going 7-of-12 from the charity stripe and hitting two of the Lady Blue Devil’s three 3-pointers.
Wall came out fast and took a commanding 14-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. They continued their pace early in the second as senior Emery Harper hit two free throws for a 16-6 lead. After that, Central Heights went on a 5-0 run to bring the game back within single digits, before Wall ended the half on a 7-3 run to lead 23-13.
The teams traded blows in the third quarter, but an eight-point flurry from junior Kenzie Covert and a last-second 3-pointer from junior Kylee Holik kept the Lady Blue Devils at bay, as Wall took a 39-21 lead into the final eight minutes.
Lopez started the scoring in the fourth with a 5-0 solo run for the Lady Hawks, before senior Jakenzie Gallien hit the Lady Blue Devils’ first 3-pointer at 5:23 left in the game. However, the Lady Hawks’ lead was insurmountable as they dribbled the air out of the ball for the rest of the game, securing the 49-34 win.
CLASS 3A DIVISION II GIRLS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Wall 49, Central Heights 34
Wall 14 9 16 10 – 49
Central Heights 4 9 8 13 – 34
Wall (38-3) – Kennedi Graves 3, Katherine Lewis 2, McKenzie Lopez 11, Jewels Johnson 9, Emery Harper 8, Kylee Holik 3, Kenzie Covert 8, Brynlee Graves 5.
Central Heights (32-6) – Peaches Gallien 15, Lauren Colatta 2, Jakenzie Gallien 9, McKennadie Wynn 3, Aubrey Jolley 5.
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X @Paul_Witwer, Instagram and TikTok at pwitwer_sast.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Wall wins 3A Division I state basketball title vs Central Heights
Reporting by Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
