The MacArthur Girls Basketball team lost their Class 5A Region I final to Duncanville with a score of 62 to 55. The game went into overtime where Duncanville went on an 11-0 scoring run to oust the state defending champs. Prior to that run, Mac had gone ahead in the game 55-51.
Both teams had been ranked nationally by MaxPreps where Mac stood at the 6th spot and Duncanville held 14th. The Lady Cardinals finish the season 35 -3.
Duncanville coach Cathy Self-Morgan had proclaimed the game the real Texas state championship game prior to tipoff.
"The best teams are here," she said of the Class 5A Region I final at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center.
Alexis Jones finished the game with 31 points.
"Our defense was the difference," Self-Morgan said, "as it has been all season long."
The game ended Alexis' Jones career at MacArthur, Jones finished her senior year with an average of 25.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 steals.
Coach Suzie Oelschlegel posted the following message on the team's site:
"On behalf of the entire Lady Cardinals Basketball program, I would like to thank all of our fans that have supported us this season as well as the past few years. This has been quite a journey. Even though our hearts are broken right now, we have so many wonderful memories to be thankful for. So many people have shared with me the joy that this team has brought to them. I know teams of this caliber and character rarely come along. It has been such a privilege to coach them.
To Dr. Bedden, school board members, Joe Barnet, Mike Sartor and the IISD Athletic Office Staff, Cindy Bean, Brian Basil, all the Mac VPs, faculty and staff, cheerleaders, Cardettes, Fire Truck Crew, Big Mac Keepers, Mac students, our wonderful parents and many community members, I cannot say thank you enough for your kind words and encouragement this season and especially during the playoffs. So many of you even took the time to come to our games and cheer us on. We share all of this with you. We could not have done it without your support!"
Duncanville (40-1) went on to win its seventh state title by defeating Spring Dekaney (40-2) by a score of 69-31.
