Cougar’s Nerves and unable to quiet guard tandem of Franklin and Lilly was a tough assignment
Austin – All season long opponents have slept on the Knights guard play mainly due to the great rebounding from post players, Jarion Henry 6’9”, Jordan Williams 6’6” and Jalen Jones 6’6” who are no slouches but concentrating on the low post proved be a bad strategy for the Cougars.
Junior Guard Shannon Lilly scored 23 points while leading Dallas Kimball passed La Marque 78-64 to secure their fourth state title in the school’s history. With eight appearances in Austin, the Knights are no strangers to the state tournament.
Lilly, who connected on 5-of-6 treys earned him the MVP. Counterpart Austin Franklin was just as damaging in picking 15 points going 2-of-3 from 3-point land.
“From day one these guys talked about winning the state championship,” said Royce Johnson Kimball’s Coach.
The Knights (38-3) led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter. But the 9th ranked cougars pulled within six to close out the quarter trailing 20-14.
“I just think the first half we did do a good job with our press. In second half we went straight man to man. We dug ourselves a big hole and wasn’t able to get out of it,” said La Marque’s Coach Cedrick Mason. We talked about relaxing, but we got away from the game plan.”
After Greer stroked a trey to get the Cougars within three, the knights rode the momentum of Lilly’s buzzer-beating trey to finish the second quarter with a 42-30 lead.
Lilly opened the third quarter with back to back treys to increase the Knights lead while continuing to add pressure on La Marque, who trailed 48-33 early in the period.
“I told them as Long as you go out there and give it your best, that’s all I could ask for. They looked at me and said coach we’re going to win this,” said Royce Johnson Kimball’s Coach. “They gave me there best and I feel like their best was the best against anybody.
La Marque (33-5) drew within three points with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter but three back breaking offensive baskets by Austin Franklin, Henry and Jones was too much damage to overcome.
Kimball never trailed.
“These guys played together in middle school at TW Brown,” said Coach Johnson. “They took a shot, they won the championship in middle school but they lost their big man, LeBryan Nash, he followed his step-brother Byron Eaton to Lincoln. I told LeBryan last week that I wasn’t mad because he followed Eaton to Lincoln because he followed him to Oklahoma State as well. That just told me that he love his brother. I probably would have done the same.”
Texas commit Julien Lewis, led the Cougars with 26 points.
The Experience was great, we did give it our all, it hurt a little. But we still have time, we move on to the next. Bigger and better things,” Julien Lewis La Marque’s Shooting guard.