Class 5A State Semifinal Recaps
TexasHoops analyst Lyndon Cook breaks down the opening night's games from a loaded class 5A
Port Arthur Memorial 61 Midlothian 49
PA Memorial advanced to the 5A state championship game over No.9 Midlothian on the back of a 24-point virtuoso performance from senior Thailan Wesley. Wesley was locked in from all over the court in a 9-15 shooting night where he also hit 2 huge threes for the Titans.
Midlothian's run to the state tournament was marked by tough defense and a reliance on TCU signee Kaden Archie to create for his team. While Archie struggled from the floor in the first half, Midlo's defense held firm as they went into the break only trailing 24-21.
The Panthers came out of halftime feeling it and took a brief lead before Port Arthur tied things up at 33. From that point on, the Titans held Midlothian scoreless for nearly 7 minutes as part of a 20-2 run that put the game on ice.
Darion Chatman delivered 11 points for PA Memorial in their semifinal win, while inside man Valsin Jomard had a rough shooting night but was money from the free throw line (7-10) to score 9.
Archie's 18 points (8-12 FTs) to lead Midlothian in scoring was marred by a game high 7 turnovers as he struggled to cope with Memorial's smothering defense. Evan Marshall added 13 and regional final hero Caleb Jordan put up 9.
Justin Northwest 65 San Antonio Alamo Heights 54
Northwest fell at this stage last season but made no such mistake in this year’s state semifinals, defeating Alamo Heights 65-54 to move to their first ever state championship game. The Texans punished AH on the glass all night, with Sam Freeman pulling down a whopping 17.
Northwest started pulling away in the 4th, seeing their lead grow to as many as 19 before a Mules comeback attempt cut the deficit to 7. Free throws and solid defense from thereon out put Northwest through and set up a matchup with PA Memorial for a title Saturday afternoon.
Avery Anderson led the way in scoring for the Texans with 16, but in truth their offensive output was very balanced. Mason Hix dropped 14 with Julien Smith and Freeman both posting 13 point games.
Brandon Johnson had a monster night for the Mules, going for 20 points with 5 threes. Evan Carcanagues closed out a decorated career at Heights with 12 points in his final game.