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UIL | The Light and Champion D.J. Barns lays up for two against the Thrall Tigers. D.J. Barnes - 23 pts, 4 Assists helping his team to the 2024 UIL 2A State Championship
Colton Bragg
Sports Writer
The Light and Champion
The Shelbyville Dragons are returning to the 2A State Championship after defeating Thrall 67-52. The match-up between Shelbyville and Thrall was an unlikely semifinal bout.
The Dragons finished second in a stacked district, with Beckville taking the district championship. The Bearcats and Dragons would meet for a third time in the Region III championship, where Shelbyville earned both redemption and a spot in the final four.
Conversely, Thrall finished third in their own district before battling for the top spot in Region IV.
The first half was a tightly contested ballgame. The teams entered the locker room at halftime knotted up at 32.
DJ Barnes and Geechi Mathis lit up the scoreboard for the Dragons. Barnes led with 23 points, and Geechi was hot on his heels with 22. Shelbyville was also bolstered by Eli Ferguson, who came alive in the second half, knocking down four of five three-point shots.
Shelbyville will now face Lipan in the state championship. The Dragons feel like they have unfinished business after their last trip to the state was foiled by COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. Shelbyville is hungry for another state title, and on Saturday, they will have their chance to earn it.
Scoring for Shelbyville vs. Thrall
D.J. Barnes - 23 pts, 4 Assists
Da'Davian Mathis - 22 pts, 9 rebound, 5 Assists
Eli Ferguson - 12 pts (4- 3pts made)
From the Hood County News (the Home Newspaper of the Lipan Indians)
By RICK MAUCH
Hood County News
The Indians (35-4) will play for a second consecutive Class 2A state championship and their sixth overall on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Shelbyville (29-7). The Dragons advanced with a 67-52 victory against Thrall (30-6).
With .03 seconds left in overtime and Lipan leading 40-39, New Home inbounded the ball after it went out of bounds under their basket following a scramble for possession. There was time for nothing more than basically tipping the ball toward the basket and saying a prayer.
Class 2A Boys Basketball State Tournament
Championship
Shelbyville Dragons v. Lipan Indians
1:30 p.m. Saturday
The Alamodome, San Antonio
Semifinal Results
Shelbyville 67, Thrall 52
Lipan 40, New Home 39 (overtime)