Terry earns first trip to state tournament with big win
Aldine – If you listen to Travis coach Craig Brownson, he’ll tell you that two is better than one, meaning the Harrison twins.
Aaron and Andrew Harrison combined for 45 points and Fort Bend Travis punched its second straight ticket to Austin by overcoming three previous losses to district rival Bush, 61-53 in the Region III 5A Boys Basketball Finals on Saturday evening at the Campbell Center.
The victory gives the Tigers a second chance to lay claim to a title that slipped away last year.
The Kentucky bound Harrison’s twins attacked the Broncos from all angles. Andrew doing most of the damage, poured in 21 of his 32 points from the charity strip. Brother Aaron added 13 points as both combined for more than half the team’s total points.
After last season’s disappointing loss to Flower Mound Marcus, Travis will join Richardson Berkner, South Grand Prairie and Cibolo Steele in Austin at the Frank Erwin Center next Friday.
Bush, who beat Travis three times this season, never led but fought from behind throughout the contest. Finding room in the Tigers air tight zone defense was much like finding water in the dessert.
“There were earlier games that could have gone either way,” Travis coach Brownson said. They just made a couple extra plays whether it be, free throws, whether it be, knock down a jumper here or there. We needed to make one or two extra plays tonight and we did that. That’s the key; you can’t focus on the goal of lost. You got to focus on each possession at a time, getting stops at the defensive end, being aggressive and at least finding great shots at the offensive end.”
Kelly Oubre led Bush with 20 points; Brandon Jones added 16 and Shawndre Jones scored 15.
“It was tough, both teams wanted it. They just out played us tonight,” says Bush point guard Shawndre Jones who has committed to the University of Richmond. We played a 3-2 earlier and they started making some shots, and at the end of the game we played more man and pressed. The same strategy we used last time, they just knocked down more shots this game.”
Jones gave his best efforts to keep the Broncos in it as he knocked down four 3-pointers.
“Usually during the game, I try to pick and choose my spots to shoot,” Jones said. This game I tried to pick it more later, than earlier, but I should have been more aggressive. Kelly and BJ got there shots anytime they wanted it but my shot wasn’t falling. My goal was to get my teammates involved more often.”
Travis (31-5) drilled four, 3-pointers, scored ten points from the free throw line and added one two-point field goal from the floor in the first half. That was enough enter halftime, leading 24-18.
Andrew Harrison netted two free throws to open the third quarter before Bush ran off seven unanswered points, including Jones tip in, two free throws and Oubre penetrated the lane for a layup while taking a foul and scoring the bonus, cutting Travis lead 26-25 with 4:12 to go.
That would be as close as the Broncos (32-5) would get as the twins paired up for Travis’ next six points. Aaron was good on one-of-two free throws, a two-point basket and Andrew scored on a layup, coupled with a foul to increase Travis lead, 32-25.
Daniel Chika’s back door layup gave the Tigers its biggest lead at ten, 36-26, by beating the third quarter buzzer at the close of the quarter.
An opportunity to draw even, bottomed out after Brandon Jones layup and Shawndre Jones converted two free throws to pull Bush within two-points, 45-43. Again Brandon Jones kept things close when he managed to out-muscle Chika and score on an offensive board, 48-45.
Then, the twin dual took over scoring at will to end the Broncos’ best season since 2003.
In Class 4A Region III action, Terry dominated Georgetown 58-37 to earn its first trip to the state tournament.
Joining Terry in Austin, San Antonio Northside Brenan, Fort Worth Arlington Heights and Dallas Kimball on Thursday.
The Rangers got superb performance from Derrick Griffin who led with 21 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks. Billy White dropped in 18 points with 10 boards.