Carrollton Ranchview Ousts Gilmer in Regional Semis With Fourth-Quarter Run
COMMERCE -- Appearing in its third consecutive regional tournament, the Gilmer Lady Buckeyes were hoping to finally break through and attain the ultimate goal of competing at state.
Carrollton Ranchview had other ideas.
The Lady Wolves took control with an 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to take out Gilmer, 45-39, Friday in their Class 4A Region II semifinal at The Field House on the campus of Texas A&M-Commerce.
Gilmer (32-4) was eliminated one round short of the regional finals for the third time in as many years.
“It’s great, and I’m proud of them," said Lady Buckeyes coach Mandi Simpson. "We’re just real disappointed right now because we could have won that game.”
Ranchview (27-7) will play two-time defending state champion Argyle (34-2) for the regional title at 2 p.m. Saturday back in Commerce.
The fourth quarter featured six lead changes in the first four minutes until Ranchview embarked on its game-defining run.
Bry Washington nailed a 3-pointer that gave the Lady Wolves a 36-34 lead, and that was followed by a three-point play from MaQhi Berry and a Skylah Hawkins putback that pushed Ranchview's lead to 41-34 with 3:01 remaining.
"We still were in the game as bad as we played," Simpson said. "They went on that one little run, and that’s why we always say, ‘every little possession counts.’ And they learned that the hard way tonight.”
Berry finished with 15 points -- 13 in the second half -- to lead Ranchview. Washington added 10 points (nine after halftime), nine rebounds, and two assists
Ranchview held a 26-17 edge in rebounding for the game, and several of those came off misses on the offensive end.
“Their size was hard for us," Simpson said. "They get to the midline so well, they’re so much bigger. Even bigger than that was giving them too many offensive boards.”
Gilmer senior guard Destiny Brooks led the Lady Buckeyes with 15 points, which included three 3-pointers. She was limited to just three points in the second half.
“They just stayed on her, and didn’t move off of her. It was a like a box-and-one, but it wasn’t a box," Simpson said of Ranchview's defense on Brooks.
Belynda Ray added 12 points and eight rebounds in the loss for Gilmer.
Brooks' third 3 of the night pushed Gilmer's lead to 15-9 early in the second quarter, but Ranchview went on a 6-0 run to even the game.
Gilmer led for most of the third quarter, until Sierra Mosley-Jefferson's only basket of the night tied the game at 26-26 with 54 seconds remaining in the period.
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Carrollton Rancvhiew 45, Gilmer 39
Girls Class 4A Region II Semifinal
At The Field House, Texas A&M-Commerce
Gilmer 12 8 6 13 — 39
Ranchview 9 7 10 19 — 45
GILMER (32-4) — Destiny Brooks, 15; Belynda Ray, 12; Kyla Grant, 6; Meshia Shead, 4; Kahriya Williams, 2.
RANCHVIEW (27-7) — MaQhi Berry, 15; Bry Washington, 10; Jada Garrett, 6; Skylah Hawkins, 6; Neomi Ellis, 3; Jada Freeman, 3; Sierra Mosley-Jefferson, 2.
THREE-POINT GOALS — Gilmer: Brooks (3). Ranchview: Berry, Washington.