Amarillo San Jacinto Ends MCA Girls Basketball Season

contributed by: TSB Staff

Within 15 hours of returning home after their first round road victory over Ovilla Christian in the TAPPS Girls Basketball Playoffs, the McKinney Christian Academy Mustangs were on the road again with a daunting task in front of them:

To take on the two-time defending TAPPS 3-A Champs, Amarillo San Jacinto, on the Patriots home floor.

The Patriots have won three of the last four State Championships and are looking for a three-peat this year with several returning players . While the Mustangs were battling Ovilla in a heated contest, the San Jacs were pasting their first round opponent by 50 points.

The Mustangs fought bravely and showed no quit ,but clearly did not bring their top game with them to Amarillo as poor shooting and 24 turnovers spelled the end of the line for the Mustangs in a 50-34 loss. Despite this the Mustangs contended well throughout and midway through the fourth qtr found themselves within 6 points at 40-34. The Mustangs were forced to foul late, however, and the Patriots were able to convert the freethrows and claim the victory.

MCA suffered from a slow, start scoring only 5 points in the first qtr on a freethrow by Taylor Brock and two power moves by Ellie Kimball and were down 15-5 after one, but played virtually even with the Patriots after that point. Kimball added 6 more points in the second and Point guard Pris Melton got on the board with a driving layup and a three pointer and it was 27-16 at the half.

Jr Kaylee Bollinger hit one of her trademark three pointers in the third and Soph Post Kaitlynn McAdams got on the board with two baskets as MCA kept pace but, could make up no ground in the third. They trailed 38-26 after 3 and were staring at the end of a very good season. The Mustangs started the season 1-6, but won 14 of their next 17 to claim a share of the district 4 3-A Championship and advance to the playoffs. They had one more run in them.

McAdams hit one of two from the line, Melton hit a runner and Bollinger bombed another 3 and the Mustangs had hope at 40-34 with 4 minutes to go. However, San Jacinto took the air out of the ball and when the Mustangs were forced to foul the Patriots experienced seniors were deadly. Saralyn Smith and Geri Cox each were 4 of 4 from the line in the last few minutes as both finished with 18 points for the game.

The Mustang seniors, Brock, Kimball and Melton on the other hand had led the team all season, but came up short in the second half. Melton had two layups , but Kimball managed only a single free throw and Brock was shut out in the second half.

Kimball led the Mustangs with 11 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Melton with 9, McAdams 7, and Bollinger 6, and Brock 1. Brock led in assists with 4 and added 6 rebounds. McAdams had 8 caroms.

The Mustangs end the season at 18-12. The Patriots advance to the regional finals against a very strong Ft Worth Country Day team, a 79-24 winner over fellow 4-3A Co-Champ Dallas Lutheran in what should be a very entertaining matchup.