No. 1 Martin’s Mill Rolls Past Cushing + One Win From Ninth Straight State Tournament

TYLER -- The top-ranked Martin's Mill Lady Mustangs dominated under the basket and behind the 3-point line Friday evening, and are one more win from a ninth consecutive trip to the state tournament.

Cheyenne Brown had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Martin's Mill connected on eight 3-pointers in the Lady Mustangs' 65-34 win over Cushing in their Class A Division I Region III semifinal at Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gym.

Martin's Mill (33-2), the defending state champion, will have the chance to defend its title if it can defeat Kerens (27-4) -- an 85-38 winner over Tenaha -- for the regional title. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday back at TJC.

Alyssa Pate hit four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Jocie Bennett, Hailey Celsur, Madison Daniel and Cassidy McCoy also hit from long range for Martin's Mill, which also assisted on 11 of its 22 made field goals.

Martin's Mill controlled the glass, outrebounding Cushing 27-13 for the game.

Cushing (29-5) was led in defeat by Mackenzie Tucker, who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kayla Moore knocked down four 3-pointers and ended the game with 14 points.

Martin's Mill got off to a quick start by scoring the game's first nine points on two baskets and two free throws by Brown and a 3-pointer from Daniel. Cushing responded with a 10-2 run to cut the lead to one on the strength of a 3 by Moore and a 3-point play from Tucker.

It was all Lady Mustangs after that. A 14-1 run quickly increased Martin's Mill's lead to 25-11 with 3:33 remaining in the first half. Cushing never got any closer than 12 points the rest of the way, and Brown's putback at the buzzer stretched the Lady Mustangs' lead to 20 -- 34-14 -- at halftime.

The third quarter delivered more of the same as Martin's Mill used an 11-0 spurt to build its lead to 51-20 late in the period.

No. 1 Martin's Mill 65, No. 21 Cushing 34

Girls Class A Division I Region III Semifinal

At Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gym

Cushing                 10    4   14    6   --   34
Martin's Mill            16  18   19  12   --   65
CUSHING (29-5) -- Kayla Moore, 14; Mackenzie Tucker, 14; Sammi Jo Brashears. 3; Margaret Carpenter, 3.
MARTIN'S MILL (33-2) -- Cheyenne Brown, 27; Alyssa Pate, 14; Cassidy McCoy, 7; Hailey Celsur, 6; Madison Daniel, 6; Jocie Bennett, 5.
THREE-POINT GOALS -- Cushing: Moore (4). Martin's Mill: Pate (4), Bennett, Hailey Celsur, Daniel, McCoy.