Regional Semifinal Breakdown: Lake Ridge vs Waxahachie

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Duncanville falling last week as a favorite to make the state tournament. Everyone in region 1 &amp; 2 can smell their own state title birth cooking at the moment. Lake Ridge and Waxahachie are both familiar with each other being 2 of the top seeds in the "District of doom" (11-6a). This game had epic written all over being sold out with only standing room, considering were not even to regionals yet that is extremely impressive. The game starting fast paced, both teams trapping full court and forcing turnovers for easy baskets. Waxahachie was able to gain a 5 point advantage going into the half which didn't feel safe. Waxahachie opened up the 3rd quarter bring the lead to 10 but Lake Ridge woke up and went on their own run to tie the game at 58 heading into the 4th. Lake Ridge continued that momentum in the 4th pushing the lead to double digits quickly and never looking back holding Waxahachie to just 5 4th quarter points winning 78-63. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Ridge was impressive overall as a team but here are a few players that were big on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'0 2024 Amir Mcmillian was electric all night knocking down timely shots from deep, creating points at the rim scoring and assisting &amp; forcing turnovers in the trap that made him the clear MVP tonight. He finished with 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'5 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1234082' first='Ahmare' last='Rose'] was a name called all night as well. Listed as a forward but easily translate into a big guard the way he moves up and down the floor. He made some timely shots on the offensive end as well, able to penetrate and score. He also provided some length in the trap and on the perimeter that gave Waxahachie lots of trouble in the turnover area. Ahmare finished with 13 on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'1 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2363237' first='Matthew' last='Alexander'] was a fresh face for me. Finished with 18 but not listed for his scoring rather than his tough all around play and effort that had a HUGE impact on the game. He fly's around on defense recording several steals and even a couple blocks. Offensively he's a true PG that was able to utilize his weapons and created some easy layup's by blowing by his defender and drawing backside help. Overall things that just can't be taught or even recorded on the stat sheet. Impressive...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waxahachie had a great season and will look to make a run next year as one of the state favorites on paper. Returning pretty much all of their impact players with lots of big game experience in 11-6A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of the big names listed below, 6'2 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1125973' first='Isayah' last='Pankey'] had himself quite a night keeping hopes alive for Waxahachie. He finished with 14 and showed some big time ability scoring the ball against some elite size. He was also clutch defensively in able to move off ball to open spots as well as drop dimes to his teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'4 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1534610' first='King' last='Grace'] was efficient knocking down 3 triples in the first half and continued to have spurts all game finishing with 16 and showing why he is in the conversation for one of the nations top guards in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'9 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1225568' first='Parker' last='Jefferson'] was also a huge force in the first half controlling the paint on both sides but was fairly quiet to end the game. He finished with 13 on the night and should be a top 5 big man in Texas heading into his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->