Harrison Twins orchestrate pivotal back-to-back Alley Hoops to help apply final pieces to puzzle
Austin – Andrew Harrison tossed back-to-back Alley Hoops to twin Brother Aaron, to break open a 12-point lead (55-43) which helped Fort Bend Travis hold off the Richardson Berkner Rams, 60-52 in the Class 5A State Semifinals on Friday evening as a crowd of 11,241 watched at the Frank Irwin Center.
For the second straight season, the Tigers (32-5) have advanced to the title game. It will face South Grand Prairie, a 60-43 winner over Cibolo Steele, Saturday night at 8:30 pm at the Irwin center.
Aaron Harrison led Travis with 19 points while Andrew scored 18.
Always aware of each other, twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison converted two game-changing plays with less than three minutes to play. The two paired up for back-to-back Alley hoops to break open a contest that was in question late in the fourth quarter.
Andrew took a usual slow jog, dribbling the ball up the court and overseeing the field from his point guard position. Without hesitation, Aaron faked a move toward the baseline to set himself up for a feed from Andrew which resulted in an Alley Hoop, as he got behind Berkner’s defense. Then Harris sank one-of-two free throws at the other end of the court before the twins recorded a carbon copy of its first Alley Hoop. Travis led, 55-43.
Edo Soma knocked down an early third quarter jumper from the free throw line, giving the Rams a 32-26 lead. Right after, Aaron and Andrew converted four consecutive free throws and Chris Idi’s steal and fast break feed to Aaron led to a dunk to put Travis ahead 34-32, its first lead of the game, which stood up for the win.
“We changed up in the second half. First we had to decide to get back on defense. We didn’t do that in the first half,” Travis coach Craig Brownson said. We gave them too many easy points in transition defense. I like our chances guarding in the half court. We did a good job, boxing their guys out.”
Free throw shooting, 26-of-31 played a huge role, favoring the Tigers. 19-of-23 were poured in by the twins.
Berkner (33-6) labored hard in search of containing the Harrison twins, which proved to be a feat in itself as time became a factor.
“My teammates played hard”, Richardson Berkner’s guard Kendal Harris said. Travis just made some plays we couldn’t stop. We got scared to touch them because we didn’t want to send them to the line. We didn’t want to play the defense we usually played. They kind of got us back on our toes. It wasn’t anything coach was telling us not to do. We just naturally started backing up.”
Early in the fourth, Harris free throws pulled Berkner within four, 40-36 but the fouls kept piling up, sending the Tigers to the charity line.
Down the stretch Travis out-scored the Rams 7-5 from the free throw line.
Edo, Harris and Joshua Francis helped Berkner developed an early 9-2 start with a pair of treys and a couple of close range baskets.
The Tigers trailed 11-6 after a quarter of play, but never panicked.
Fans watched, as both teams’ traded baskets in the second quarter until Berkner took a 26-22 halftime lead on junior guard Keenan Evans’ running shot.
Berkner gave its best effort in third quarter, attempting to hold off Travis, who kept the pressure on by staying close with stiff half court defense, baskets in the low-post area and at the free throw line.