CYPRESS — The Cypress Creek High School girls’ basketball team won the Region III-6A championship on March 2 for the third time in four seasons, qualifying for the UIL Basketball State Championships.
The Cougars defeated Alvin Shadow Creek, 61-50, at the Merrell Center in Katy to earn their third trip to state. In the regional semifinals Feb. 26, Cypress Creek beat Humble Summer Creek, 70-41, to advance.
Cypress Creek led from the start of the regional championship before holding off a third-quarter surge from Alvin Shadow Creek, as its 10-0 run cut the Cougars’ lead down to a single point. But the Cougars responded with their own run, scoring 18 of the game’s next 24 points to stretch its lead back out to double digits. Alvin Shadow Creek only got within single digits once the rest of the way.
The Cougars improve to 31-0 on the season. Senior Kyndall Hunter led the team with 30 points against Alvin Shadow Creek, while fellow senior Rori Harmon added 20.
The win sends Cypress Creek back to state for the second straight year and third time in four years.
“It’s an expectation at this point,” Hunter said. “We’ve worked hard for this so it’s really amazing that we’re able to keep doing it and keep doing it. This is something everyone wants to do but we really set our minds to this. Every day, we just worked for it.”
Cypress Creek will face Region IV champion Converse Judson (26-1) in the Class 6A state semifinals. The contest will be at 3 p.m. on March 6 at Goliad Event Center (749 N. Church Street) in Goliad, Texas.
Due to COVID-19, the only games played at the state tournament at the Alamodome will be the championship games.
Cypress Creek tickets will be $7 each for adults and students and will be available for purchase through Goliad ISD.
Region I champion South Grand Prairie (25-2) will meet Region II champion DeSoto (26-2) on March 6 in the other semifinal. The two winners will meet in the state championship game at 7 p.m. on March 11 at the Alamodome.
Cypress Creek is vying for a second consecutive appearance in the Class 6A championship game. The Cougars also reached the 6A semifinals in 2018. Over the last four season, they have played in four regional tournaments and won three regional championships to go with three state appearances.
“They just do things the right way on and off the court,” Cypress Creek Head Coach Jennifer Alexander said. “They’re outstanding teammates and people, and they’re always trying to get others involved. Even as freshmen, they were trying to get everyone involved. It’s a special group.”