State titles just keep coming for Texas' elite girls basketball programs

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Traditional powerhouse girls basketball programs made their mark on the UIL girls state basketball tournament last weekend at San Antonio's Alamodome.

Leading the way was Class 1A champion Nazareth, hoisting the state championship trophy for a record 21st time. Class 5A champion Canyon won its 19th state title and Duncanville captured its tenth.

Five of this season's six champs shared the common thread of representing Region I. Four of those squads are located within 100-mile radius of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.

A look back at Saturday's championship games and the all-tournament teams:

Class 6A: Duncanville 76, Cypress Ranch (Houston) 65
Duncanville (39-2) captured its fourth state crown in six years and its second in a row for coach Cathy Self-Morgan. Zarielle Green led the Pantherettes with 25 points and seven rebounds. Aniya Thomas made 5-of-11 3-pointers on the way to 19 points. Starr Jacobs had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Cypress Ranch (32-7) was led by SMU signee Ariana Whitfield's 32 points. DiDi Richards, a Baylor signee, had 16 points, three blocks and nine rebounds.

All-tourney: MVP - Zarielle Green, Duncanville, Jr., 6-0 G; Starr Jacobs, Duncanville, Jr., 6-1 F; DiDi Richards, Cypress Ranch, Sr., 6-2 G; Aniya Thomas, Duncanville, Jr., 5-7 G; Ariana Whitfield, Cypress Ranch, Sr., 5-6 G.

Class 5A: Canyon 47, Mansfield Timberview (Arlington) 45
Canyon (31-3) won its fourth state title in succession despite trailing for almost the entire game. Angel Hayden's layup with 1:07 remaining gave coach Joe Lombard's team a lead it would not relinquish. Hayden finished with 16 points, four assists and six rebounds. Inside, McKenzie Taylor had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Timberview (37-3) was led by Texas A&M signee Chennedy Carter's 18 points. Timberview was outscored 16-3 on free throws.

All-tourney: MVP - Angel Hayden, Canyon, Sr., 5-6 G; Chennedy Carter, Timberview, Sr., 5-8, G; Charli Collier, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu), Jr., 6-5 F/C; McKenzie Taylor, Canyon, Sr., 6-1, G/F; Taylah Thomas, Timberview, Sr., 6-1 G/F. Class 4A: Argyle 40, Liberty Hill 30
Argyle (37-2), the only non-Region I state champ, captured its third title in succession and the fifth overall. Vivian Gray, a Fort Lewis College signee, led the Lady Eagles with 14 points, 15 rebounds and three steals.
Liberty Hill (36-3) was paced by Sedona Prince with 10 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

All tourney: MVP-Vivian Gray, Argyle, Sr., 6-1 F; Kandyn Faurie, Liberty Hill, Jr., 5-9 F; Sedona Prince, Liberty Hill, Jr., 6-7 C; Haley Robertson, Godley, Sr., 5-8 G; Gabby Standifer, Argyle, Jr., 6-0 G.

Class 3A: Canadian 51, Buffalo 49
Canadian (33-3) went ahead for the final time with 43 seconds remaining on a tip-in by Avery Pennington. Haevyn Risley led the Lady Cats with 20 points, four steals and six offensive rebounds. Emily Alexander chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds.
Buffalo (28-5) was led by point guard Jordan Jenkins' 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals and had a potential game-winning 3-pointer come off the iron at the finish. Mollie Dittmar added 18 points with nine rebounds before fouling out with 2:10 remaining.

All-tourney: MVP - Haevyn Risley, Canadian, Sr., 5-9 G; Emily Alexander, Canadian, Jr., 5-8 G; Mollie Dittmar, Buffalo, Fr., 5-11, C; Jordan Jenkins, Buffalo, Sr., 5-5 G; Sam Lowry, Mt. Vernon, Sr., 5-9 G.

Class 2A: Panhandle 50, Martins Mill (Ben Wheeler) 43
Panhandle (30-6), a state runner-up last season, finished with a 9-3 run to lock up the school's second state title and its first in 25 years. Grace Kuehler scored all 11 of her game-high point total in the second half. Rylee Albracht and Lainey Choate had 10 each.
Martin's Mill (37-3) was led by Calli Camacho and Hailey Celsur with 10 points each.

All-tourney: MVP-Grace Kuehler, Panhandle, Jr., 5-10 C; Rylee Albracht, Panhandle, Jr., 5-9 G/F; Hailey Celsur, Martin's Mill, Sr., 5-8 G; Macalle Melton, Panhandle, So., 5-8 F/C; Abbie Orrick, Martin's Mill, Fr., 5-7 F.

Class 1A: Nazareth 48, Dodd City 42
Nazareth (35-1) claimed its record 21st state title and its third in four years in its 25th state tournament appearance. Allie Schulte led the Swiftettes with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and seven steals.
Dodd City (32-4) was paced by Olivia Hilliard with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

All-tourney: MVP-Allie Schulte, Nazareth, Sr., 5-10 G; Cambrie Heiman, Nazareth, Fr., 5-10 F; Olivia Hilliard, Dodd City, Sr., 6-1 C; Fallon Hilliard, Dodd City, Sr., 6-0 C; Ellen Schilderink, Nazareth, Sr., 5-10 G.