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STATE CHAMPS: Liberty Christian Warriors defeat Second Baptist for State Title
It was an extremely physical and fast-paced match at Robinson High School on Friday, February 24th for the TAPPS 5A Girls State Championship match-up. The Liberty Christian Lady Warriors fought hard and set an early tone on the court as they posted a 46-34 victory over Houston Second Baptist to win the state title.
In the first half of the game, the Lady Warriors were the first to put points on the board. Not long after, though, the Second Baptist Lady Eagles pulled ahead to get their own lead in the game. From there, both teams moved swiftly on the hardwood as they fought to be the one to strike most often. It wasn't long until the Lady Warriors pulled ahead and set the tempo unwilling to look back. The offense delivered bucket after bucket while they pulled away and the defense was able to continue to fend off Second Baptist's attempts to score as the Lady Warriors led 24-14 headed into halftime.
Coming out of halftime lead by Emma Kay Martin, Marisa Martin, Lauren Ulrich, and the rest of the team, the Lady Warriors fought through adversity. With an electric atmosphere and the Liberty Christian fans already on their feet to cheer the Lady Warriors to victory. Through the third period, Liberty Christian's defense continued to hold strong against Second Baptist leaving room for the Lady Warrior offense to continue to pull away.
Late in the third period, Emma Kay Martin was pulled out after an injury on the court giving Second Baptist the opportunity to do whatever it took to play catchup on the court. The Lady Eagles were able to narrow Liberty Christian's lead a bit, but the Lady Warriors continued to play strong. As Jazzy Powell fouled out, Second Baptist narrowed Liberty Christian's lead down to only 10 points.
With the addition of junior Madison Gee on the court, the Liberty Christian Lady Warriors found continued energy on the court. Despite Second Baptist's continued attempt at a comeback, Liberty Christian never faltered. With the ability to finish strong on the court, Liberty Christian pushed through to the final buzzer in order cap their season with a victory!
Liberty Christian Lady Warriors braced for TAPPS State Semifinals
The TAPPS basketball state tournament is already back and the Dallas-Fort Worth area has plenty of teams representing. One of those teams is none other than the Argyle Liberty Christian Lady Warriors. After a hard-fought season, the Lady Warriors are more than prepared for the state semifinals. VYPE DFW dives into the team and what fans can expect:
A Look Back
Last season, the Liberty Christian Lady Warriors finished second in their district and made a playoff appearance. Giving everything they had, Liberty Christian posted a 73% win percentage and a 19-7 overall record while outscoring their opponents by a combined 408 points on the season. Using momentum from last season, the Lady Warriors were able to head into a brand new season with knowledge and skill on the court.
Opening preseason play with a four game win-streak, the Lady Warriors used preseason to prepare for a rigorous district schedule. Liberty Christian posted incredible victories against non-district opponents including Mansfield (55-20), Royse City (60-49), Joshua (57-31), Keller (36-29), Brock (44-28), Ursuline Academy (49-35), and more. On the high of a strong preseason, the Lady Warriors were prepared for anything in district play and proved this by posting an undefeated 7-0 district record to finish at the stop of their standings.
Playoffs & What To Expect
After outplaying their district opponents with victories over Midland Christian (56-19), Fort Worth Christian (67-32), Fort Worth All Saint's Episcopal (36-28), and more, the Lady Warriors have been putting in extra work in the postseason. So far in the playoffs, Liberty Christian has ended the seasons of Plano's Coram Deo Academy (69-15), and Grapevine Faith (42-38). Headed into the TAPPS State Semifinals having outscored their opponents this season by 654 points already, the Lady Warriors are looking to continue showing their strength on the court.
Energetic, alert, and fast-paced are three of the key factors that continue to power Liberty Christian toward success this season. An explosive offense that is able to score early and often to set the tone combined with alert defending and smart defensive plays can be expected as they take on Tyler Grace Community School in the TAPPS State Semifinals.
The Lady Warriors' semifinal game will be at University High School in Waco, Texas on Thursday, February 23rd with a tip-off time of 2 p.m.