Class 2A

Panhandle rallies past Seagraves

The Panhandle Panthers shook off a slow start, putting together a dominating second half to roll past Seagraves 63-41 during a UIL Class 2A Division I regional semifinal on Tuesday night at Frenship Memorial High School.

The Panthers were down as many as 10 in the first half, and trailed 30-23 at the break.

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In the second half, Panhandle woke up, and the shooters caught fire as the Panthers outscored the Eagles 23-5 in the third quarter alone to take a 46-35 lead. Caden Armes sparked the rally, three, 3-pointers along with two free-throws, scoring 11 of his team-high 22 points in the quarter. Landen Andrews added 12 points with all of those coming in the second half.

Teammate Luke Schmucker chipped in nine points. Panhandle (27-6) is now set for a UIL Region I-2A Division I showdown with district rival Wellington (22-9) at 6:30 p.m. Friday night at the Joe Lombard Gymnasium in Canyon.

Wellington stuns Ropes

The Wellington Skyrockets have been on a roll since the playoffs began, and that continued Monday when the Skyrockets upended Ropes in a very close game, 67-59, during a UIL Class 2A Division I regional semifinal at Floydada High School.

The Skyrockets (22-9) will now head into a showdown with rival Panhandle (27-6) in the Region I-2A Division I championship game, which is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Joe Lombard Gymnasium in Canyon. The Panthers beat the Skyrockets in both district meetings during the regular season.

In the win over Ropes (26-4), Wellington led 21-20 after one and held a 32-30 at the half. The Eagles had taken a 41-40 after three, however, Wellington put together a strong fourth quarter to outscore Ropes 27-18 and pull off the 67-59 win.

Jimmy Cantu carried on his tremendous playoff run by scoring a team-high 22 points. Callen Kane followed with 18.

Gruver-New Home set for rematch

The Gruver Greyhounds had no issues in the third round, cruising past Plains 72-43 to win the UIL Class 2A Division II regional semifinal championship on Monday night at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty High School.

The Greyhounds picked up a tremendous performance from Mason Lankford. The sophomore standout posted a game-high 29 points on top of eight rebounds, six assists and five steals. Teammate Brock Butler added 10 points in the victory.

On the otherside of the bracket, the New Home Leopards beat Roscoe in a very good matchup, 66-61, on Tuesday night to win the Class 2A Division II regional semifinal championship. Zack Armes blistered Roscoe, with an absolute outstanding performance. Armes couldn’t be stopped, posting an eye-popping 34 points behind eight, 3-pointers.

With the Gruver (22-0) and New Home (26-9) victories, this now sets up a rematch between the two teams in the Region I-2A Division II championship at 7 p.m. Thursday at the First United Bank Center on the campus of West Texas A&M.

The Leopards defeated the Greyhounds last year in that meeting, 63-29.

CLASS 4A
Regional semifinals

West Plains blows out Fort Worth Southwest

The West Plains Wolves ran right past Fort Worth Southwest in an absolute blowout, 69-25, to claim the UIL Class 4A Division I regional semifinal championship Tuesday night at Vernon High School.

The Wolves (30-4) will now face Burkburnett (31-5) in the Region I-4A championship game, which is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Childress High School.

Reid Macon paced the Wolves in the win over Southwest with a game-high 20 points. Teammate Ethan Gilliam used his size inside to chip in 15 and Kaden Hooker added 11.

CLASS 1A

Valley downs Happy

For the second straight year, Valley and Happy faced off in the UIL Class 1A Division I regional semifinals, and just like last year, it was Valley putting an end to Happy’s season.

A strong second half was the catalyst that propelled the Patriots to a 61-47 victory against the Cowboys on Tuesday night at Canyon High School.  

Valley (27-4), which made the state championship game last year, gets a matchup with Boys Ranch (16-9) at a time and place to be determined in the Region I-1A Division I championship.

Kanyon Taylor and Corbin Taylor led the way for the Patriots as the duo combined for 34 points but it was the play of Damian Valdes that was the difference for Valley. Happy came out hot thanks to two three pointers from Rayce Cameron as the Cowboys led 16-7 at the end of one. Happy threatened to widen the lead in the second quarter but Valdes consistently drove into the paint and tallied eight points in the quarter to trim the lead to 25-23.

The third quarter was the difference in this one as Valley outscored Happy 27-16 thanks to eight points each from Carson Tucker and Kanyon Taylor while Valdes contributed six. The Cowboys then went cold in the fourth, only scoring six points, as the defense of Valley shut down any inside threat for Happy. 

J’Lond Ferguson poured in 18 in the loss for Happy as the Cowboys finished the year at 21-10.

Boys Ranch makes school history

The Boys Ranch Roughriders made school history during a thrilling 55-48 win over Crosbyton in the UIL Class 1A Division I regional semifinals on Tuesday night Muleshoe.

The Roughriders have now advanced to the school’s first ever regional championship game thanks to the historic win. Boys Ranch (16-9) is now set for a showdown with Valley (27-4) at a time and place to be determined.

The Roughriders jumped out to a 32-23 halftime lead and were in control up 48-29 by the end of three. Ethan Paulo had a strong night, scoring a game-high 19 points for the Roughriders. Teammates Camden Yarbrough, Cord’e Jackson and Jaxon Dynneson each added nine.

Nazareth survives Sands

It came down to the wire, but the Nazareth Swifts were able to survive Sands to get a thrilling 50-49 win in the UIL Class 1A Division II regional semifinals Monday at Lubbock-Cooper High School.

Zane Schulte, Jett McLarty and Lincoln Pohlmeier did all they could to help the Swifts get the victory. Schulte went for a team-best 17 points, McLarty had 12 and Pohlmeier posted 11.

Nazareth (23-9) is headed back to the Region I-1A Division II championship game, and will now play Whitharral (24-10) at 5:30 p.m. Friday on the campus of Littlefield High School.

Monday and Tuesday’s regional semifinal scores

Class 5A Division I

Birdville 71, Tascosa 43
Denton High 57, Amarillo High 41

Class 4A Division II

Lubbock-Cooper Liberty 71, Pampa 42
Brock 67, Randall 47

Class 3A Division I

Shallowater 66, Jim Ned 56

Class 3A Division II

Henrietta 68, Slaton 64