MANSFIELD — Junior forward Julius Randle scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the second half as Prestonwood beat Houston St. Thomas, 51-39, in a TAPPS 5A boys state semifinal Friday.
Prestonwood went through a six-minute stretch without scoring during the second and third quarters but will still play in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield Summit. St. Thomas cut the deficit to six on two occasions in the third quarter but could get no closer.
But Prestonwood pushed the lead to 46-30 in the fourth quarter. Kansas signee Zach Peters added 15 points for Prestonwood, and Marquan Botley finished with 10.
Arlington Grace Prep 81, San Antonio Christian 64: Junior Jordan Mickey led a balanced Arlington Grace Prep attack with 19 points, while Baylor signee and McDonald's All-American Isaiah Austin added 15 as Arlington Grace Prep (26-4) advanced to the TAPPS 4A boys state championship game for the second consecutive season. Grace Prep defeated Houston Westbury in last year's final.
Grace Prep will play in the title game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield Legacy. Grace Prep outscored San Antonio Christian, 27-8, in the second quarter — ending the quarter on a 13-0 run — to build a 46-20 halftime lead.
David Castaneda led San Antonio Christian with 20 points. Junior Corey Robinson, the son of former San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson, scored eight points for San Antonio Christian.
Girls
Bishop Lynch 69, Houston St. Pius X 30: Danyel Bradley and Celia Hardick each scored 16 points as Bishop Lynch dominated Houston St. Pius in a TAPPS 5A state semifinal.
Bishop Lynch (28-9) will play district rival Ursuline in the state championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield Summit. Lynch won the two regular-season meetings, 49-47 and 56-47.
Ursuline 50, John Paul II 36: Senior forward Anecia Richardson scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the second half as Ursuline won the second TAPPS 5A semifinal. Senior guard Elizabeth Balido scored six of Ursuline's 11 second-quarter points, and Ursuline led, 20-14, at halftime.
Jenn Walsh made three 3-pointers and scored nine points for Ursuline. Kindell Texada kept John Paul II within striking distance and scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.
Lubbock Trinity 75, TC-Cedar Hill 54: Ashton Meeks scored 21 points in the first half and finished with 29 as Lubbock Trinity (29-12) advanced to the TAPPS 4A final. Crystal Carter paced TC-Cedar Hill (22-10) with 21 points, including 15 in the second half.