For the first time in a decade, the Panhandle Ettes can call themselves state champions.
The Ettes went on a season-long run that ended on the ultimate high-note by defeating powerful Mason 38-25 to claim the UIL Class 2A Division I state championship at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Thursday night.
This is the third state championship for the Ettes (1992, 2016, 2026) and the second for head coach Rob Schmucker, who won his first state title in 2016.
“After we won the semifinals, we knew we had one more game left and this was the most important one,” Schmucker said. “We fell short last year, and winning a state title was a mission for this team this year, and these girls did it. I can’t express enough how proud I am of this entire team.”
Panhandle, a team with redemption on the mind after losing to Nocona in the state semifinals a year ago, finish an unbelievable season at 38-1, winning 37 straight games.
For senior Addison McCoid, winning a state title has been on her mind since she was in eighth grade.
“It’s very special to win a state title, especially being a senior,” said McCoid, who finished with six points with three rebounds against Mason. “To be able to win this for a community like Panhandle, that always shows up is awesome. It’s the perfect way to go out as a senior.”
A blistering start in the first quarter catapulted the Ettes to the win over Mason (40-2) on Thursday. Coach Schmucker couldn’t have asked for a better way for eight minutes to go in a game with so much luster.
The Ettes took full control of the Cowgirls, going on a 15-0 run before Mason scored its first bucket at the 3:23 mark of the first quarter.
Leader and point guard Riley Segura had the hot-hand scoring the opening four points of the game, then Paige Bixby made a transition layup off a turnover as Panhandle went up 6-0.
Segura scored six more points with help from Allie Ashley and Ell Robertson to up that advantage putting Panhandle in complete control.
“We started off really hot,” Schmucker said. “That allowed us to find a way and find a win and get it done.”
Segura echoed her coaches comment.
“I was able to find open spots in the lane, and that’s my shot,” Segura said. “I work on that shot everyday in practice. I also think that my teammates did a really good job of finding me on the court, and I knew I needed to knock the shots down in a game like this.”
The Ettes weren’t able to carry on their 55 percent shooting in the first quarter. Mason slowly chipped away, cutting the deficit, 25-15 by half, and had it chipped the Panhandle lead down to 29-25 with 5:42 left in the contest. But, as the Ettes of done all year, Panhandle answered with a Bixby 3-ball, extending the lead back to seven at 32-25 and then quickly back to an 11-point advantage thanks to a pair of Segura free-throws with under a minute to play.
“We found a way,” Schmucker said. “That’s what we’ve done all year. Our defense has been tremendous, and that has led to getting us points on offense. The defense once again was big in this win.”
Segura was named Class 2A Division I state MVP, posting a game-high 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting. Segura was clutch at the charity stripe, going 5-for-7, adding eight rebounds with three assists and two steals. Complimenting Segura was Ashley, who tallied six first half points on top of three defensive rebounds, and Bixby tallied five points.
Panhandle ended the game shooting 31.8 percent from the field, but held Mason to 29 percent shooting, as well as forcing 10 turnovers. The Ettes also did damage by pouring in 18 points inside the paint.
For a full look at the boxscore, please visit https://www.uiltexas.org/files/athletics/state-basketball/boxscores-girls/26GB2AD1.pdf