Fort Worth Southwest Christian girls basketball won the Class 5A TAPPS state title Friday. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Un
USA TODAY NETWORK
ROBINSON
Winning a championship is all about peaking at the right time.
The ability to finish and having a never-give-up attitude helps as well.
The Fort Worth Southwest Christian School Eagles girls basketball team rallied from a 10-point deficit with just under 4 minutes remaining, closing on a 13-0 run, for a stunning 46-43 triumph over the San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall Lady Barons. The victory was for the TAPPS 5A Girls basketball crown on Friday at Robinson High School.
It was the fourth TAPPS state title for Southwest Christian, all in the last seven years. (The Eagles also won titles in 2024, 2021 and 2020.)
Southwest Christian held a 31-27 advantage before St. Mary’s ended the third period converting a pair of free throws to narrow the Eagles’ lead to two points heading into the wild fourth quarter.
St. Mary’s went on a 14-2 spurt to begin the final period, and the run left SCS trailing 43-33 around the halfway point of the final quarter.
“I told my team to stay focused,” said Southwest Christian head coach Fred Jones. “Stay positive. Find a way to get back in the game.”
His team listened. Serenity Massey began the comeback by converting a pair of free throws. Then Maley Campbell drained a 3-pointer that sliced the deficit to five.
Massey then made the key defensive play of the game. She drew the fifth foul at the 2 minute, 47 mark on St. Mary’s freshman phenom Ava Wineglass, who is considered one of the top prospects statewide in the 2029 class.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense,” said Massey. “As well as my offense.” Massey finished with a team-high 18 points that included nine free throws (9 of 10 overall and 6 of 6 in the critical fourth period). “Making those free throws in the fourth quarter was huge,” noted Jones. “We needed those, and Serenity Massey is a clutch player.”
Coach Jones had high praise for Massey, a four-year starter. “Serenity is such a hard worker,” said Jones. “Consummate teammate. Our defensive stopper. Just a great all-around player.
Massey then sank four straight charity tosses that got the Eagles to within one.
Allyson Schultz, with 20.5 seconds left, gave the Eagles the lead with a close-range basket. “Just amazing,” said a jubilant Schultz. “I was able to get a good angle at the net and was able to make it.”
Campbell added a pair of free throws with 5.8 ticks remaining that extend the lead and made for the final margin of victory. A desperation midcourt heave by St. Mary’s clanged off the backboard and rim, and the Eagles players stormed the court in celebration.
“This team came together all year long,” said Campbell, who registered 12 points in the win. “And we peaked at the right time.”
Campbell, an honorable mention all-state selection last season, had a game-high 14 points, including four three-pointers in the Eagles’ semifinal win over Austin Hyde Park.
“This team is just so resilient,” said coach Jones. “So glad for this senior group and the whole team. All their hard work paid off big time.”
The third seed in district one, Southwest Christian (32-8) certainly hit its playoff stride, winning its 10th straight game. “We lost some games early in season, played a tough schedule, and lost some district games. But that prepared us for the playoffs.”
SCS convincingly handled Austin Hyde Park, 50-33, in the semifinal, making seven 3-pointers — including a trio in the first quarter by freshman Makay Campbell — avenging a loss to the team that eliminated the Eagles in last year’s area round.
Massey, a senior, along with junior Maley Campbell and freshman Makay Campbell, were selected to the 10-player all-tournament team.
No. 5 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) final rankings on February 9th, Southwest Christian, which began the playoffs with a 48-33 around triumph over district foe and No. 4-ranked Bullard Brook Hill, then upset top-ranked and defending champion Midland Christian School, 34-31, in the regional.
SCS had twice fallen to MCS, another district opponent, 41-27 and 41-33, during the regular season.
“I thought we were actually the better team,” said Jones of the two regular-season losses to MCS. “The ball just did not bounce our way in those games.”
This was the swan song for San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall for TAPPS, which will transition to the SPC next season, as will San Antonio-TMI.
San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall (29-8), No. 8 in the TABC rankings, was making its third overall state tourney appearance — all in the last four years — and seeking its first state title. It had never won a TAPPS playoff game prior to 2023.
St. Mary’s Hall defeated Houston Second Baptist 40-33 to reach the championship game.
St. Mary’s Hall was led by Wineglass, who recorded a team-high 18 points before fouling out. Wineglass, a freshman, averaged a double-double this season: 16.7 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game, entering the semifinals.
Senior Beya Chase, a four-year starter, added 12 for St. Mary’s hall. Chase became the program’s all-time leading scorer last December and is headed to play at Emerson College, a NCAA Division-III school in Boston.