UIL State Basketball: Huckabay outlasts Irion County in state semifinal

Staff Reports

SAN ANTONIO — Huckabay used a 16-point second quarter to erase a first-quarter deficit and top Irion County 47-35 in a Class 1A girls basketball state semifinal Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

The Hornets opened up a 10-7 lead after the first quarter as Baylee Rainey made two free throws late in the quarter.

The Indians, though, put together a 7-3 scoring surge late in the second quarter that was part of the 16-point quarter that gave them a 23-18 halftime lead they did not relinquish in the second half.

"I thought we came out we got after them," Irion County coach Jacob Conner said after the game. "Defensively, we were able to cause some turnovers early on, did some things to make it tough on them. I thought the girls played hard and did everything we wanted them to early on in the game."

The Hornets closed the gap to six at 39-33 after a Melanie Rainey layup with 3:57 remaining in the game but the Indians outscored Irion County 8-2 over the final 1:39 to clinch the victory.

"They were getting some looks," Conner said. "I thought in the first half we did a good job of limiting those opportunities, and there in the third quarter early in the fourth quarter we were giving them a little too much space on the perimeter and do that with really good shooters ... gave them that space we were able to knock them down."

Melanie Rainey led the Hornets with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists and was the lone player from Irion County to finish in double figures.

Rion Baccus and Cayni Chamberlin combined for 36 points for Huckabay as Baccus scored a game-best 23 points and Chamberlin added 13 in the victory. The Indians shot 45% from the field compared to 25% for Irion County, including connecting on 28.6% of their 3-pointers.

"I think it was incredibly awesome because no one expected us to go this far," said Irion County's Katie Casey. "We were unranked throughout the whole entire season. I think we all knew what we could do and the fact that we accomplished this, I'm very proud of us."

Huckabay advances to take on Nazareth or Neches in the Class 1A girls state championship at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.