Schulenburg Falls in State Semis
The Schulenburg boys basketball team took on Grapeland High School Tuesday night in a state semifinal contest that was held at the Campbell Center of Aldine and fell short with a final score of 74-60.
Grapeland started off hot while Schulenburg struggled to find their rhythm and found themselves down 20 points after the first quarter. The Horns regained their stride in the second and third quarters by sharpening up on defense and controlling the ball, fighting all the way to a single-digit deficit in the third quarter. Grapeland fired back with plenty of made shots from long-range and crisp ball movement while scoring in transition to come out with the win and a trip to the state championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“They did a good job of shutting down big Al, Kenny, and Bryce,” said Schulenburg head boys basketball coach Rich Hoogendoorn. “They took it to the hole when they had a chance and had some good looks. They’re a really nice team. I’m proud of the kids. ... There was only four teams that played tonight in Class A and we were one of them. So hats off to the kids. Hats off to the other team.”
Senior center Alex Lozano was an essential part for the Horns making it to the state tournament with his presence down low along with his outside shot.
“We just kept fighting and fighting every single game during the playoffs,” Lozano said. “I love my teammates. I thank them for everything they did.”
Senior forward Brett Janecek embraced his role as an upperclassmen throughout this outstanding tenure.
‘We’ve played together since I can remember”, said Janecek. “Little Dribblers on until now. These guys are my brothers. It sucks going out like this, but we made a hell of a run. You can’t ask for more. Of course we wanted to make it all the way, but to go this far, especially in my senior year with all the people I’ve grown up playing with is amazing. They came out strong ... we adjusted. We picked up the pace, played to their speed, and came back. It just wasn’t enough.”
Senior guard Bryce Wilson reeled in 30 points for the match and has been a go-to option in the regular and postseason. “They’re very quick,” Wilson said when asked about Grapeland. “Once we started playing better as a team and once we got our stuff together halfway through the season, that’s when I started believing,” he said when asked at what point he thought they could get to the state level.
Wilson was also asked about his thoughts on the group of seniors, “I love them. A great group of guys. My family.”
Grapeland jumped out to a 10-0 run with five and a half minutes to go in the first quarter and didn’t look back as they led 26-6 after the period from taking advantage of Schulenburg’s turnovers and hitting long range jumpers. The Horns cut it to 31-17 when senior point guard Kenny King scored a lay up on a pass up court from Bryce Wilson at the four minute mark in the second quarter, but Grapeland sophomore shooting guard Riley Murchison went down on the other end and sunk a three pointer that was followed by a wide-open dunk for junior guard Cadarian Wiley to increase the lead back to 36-17. Schulenburg then called a timeout and was able to score with baskets from King and Wilson.
Even though Grapeland extended their lead back to 20 again, Schulenburg hung tough and didn’t let the game get out of hand by going into the locker room at halftime with the scoreboard reading 45-29 in the Sandies favor. The Horns went on a tear in the beginning of the third quarter to put themselves back in contention. King grabbed a steal, went the length of the floor, and dribbled the ball behind his back at the low block for a contested lay up that was followed by a wide open lay up in transition from Wilson. Schulenburg collected another steal and senior forward T.J. Speed cleaned up a put back attempt to make it a 45-35 ball game with 6:41 to play. Grapeland was called for a travel seconds later and that resulted in a lay up from Wilson on a pass from Janecek. King then drew a foul and hit two free throws a minute later to put the Sandies lead at 46-39.
Grapeland then went on an 11-0 run with hard-earned lay ups and three pointers. Schulenburg called another timeout at the 2:28 mark when Murchison hit back-to-back daggers from long-range and put his team’s lead at 63-41. The Horns stayed in it with late heroics from Wilson in the fourth quarter as he hit a pair of free throws, a three pointer, and then an ‘and 1’ play to give Schulenburg hope at 67-55 with about four minutes to play.
Grapeland’s outside shooting and capitalizing off turnovers was the difference in the game as they ran out the clock in the final minutes for a 74-60 win and an appearance in the state finals at the Alamodome.
“I was really proud of Jayson Schaefer,” Hoogendoorn said. “He’s only played three games now back from football injuries. Bryce is a stud. Al changed so many shots tonight inside. He does a great job. There’s not another 6’8” in the pipeline anywhere that I can see. T.J., Brett, Jayson, Al, and Bryce. We’ll miss them. It was a great year. I’ll feel better about it next week.”
Grapeland 74,
Schulenburg 60,
Schulenburg 6 23 16 15 — 60
Grapeland 26 19 18 11 — 74
Schulenburg scoring: Kenny King-14, Bryce Wilson- 30, Jayson Schaefer-1, T.J. Speed- 2, Keanu Anthony- 2, Alex Lozano- 7, Kenny Schramek- 2.
Grapeland scoring: Keizion Ashford 4, Cadarian Wiley 22, Riley Murchison 23, B.J. Lamb 17, Omarion Wiley 7.
Record: Schulenburg ends its season at 22-8; Grapeland improves to 29-1.
Of note:
• This trip to the state semifinals was only the second in Schulenburg boys basketball history.
• In the playoff run the Horns defeated teams with a combined record of 80 wins and 11 losses.
• 128 Class 2A teams started the playoffs 2 weeks ago and the Horns were one of the last four standing.
• The Horns were trying to become the first Fayette Co. boys basketball team to make the state finals since Fayetteville in 1942.