The game of a lifetime, like the old UCONN vs. TN match-ups, the 2007 WNBA Final game between Phoenix and Detroit, the 2009 WNBA Final game between Phoenix and Indiana…this high school game matched up with that kind of hype, and I was just going for support. I had no idea what I was in for.
I had read that Boerne Champion, Division 27-4A, was ranked 4th in the nation in three pointers made. FOURTH IN THE NATION!!! And they were in my backyard. So when I heard they had a game coming up, I was totally there.
But imagine my surprise pulling up to this immaculate, fairly new high school and seeing a Cibolo-Schertz school bus. If it is possible to pass out due to sheer excitement, I probably should have. Boerne Champion vs. Steele and I didn’t even know it. This is a state championship match-up. This is a big deal. This is bigger than a big deal, this is a high school dream game.
I’ve been waiting to see games like this since my years of following little Brock High School out of my home town, Brock Junction, Texas. Their fans were loyal and everywhere. The gym was never less than full capacity. The whole town showed up. And I was welcomed to the entire town of Boerne, Texas at this game. What a really fun surprise. Oh, did I mention it was Parent Night complete with a mini-cheerleaders half-time show? I said the whole town, right?
I wasn’t sure I heard the announcer right so I had to ask some people surrounding me. Does Boerne have a Freshman point guard? It’s true. Ohhh, drama already and I’m getting totally jacked up.
Both teams started off hard. It was back and forth, turnover here, steal there, until finally Boerne Champion scored a quick basket to score the first points. I really thought the stands were coming DOWN! And little Miss Freshman Point Guard (5′4″ Brooke Allemand) wasn’t intimidated by Miss Tennessee Recruit (5′8″ Meighan Simmons) or her team at all. Didn’t even blink.
But the spunk and grit from Champion couldn’t match up to the sheer defense power oozing out of Steele. They obviously had a chip on their shoulder, being beaten by Champion earlier in the year. The defense took away the savvy shooting perimeter powerhouse. And when Champion’s post players couldn’t make it happen in the paint, the scoring from the 3-point line just didn’t open up. Champion was in foul trouble and down at the half on their home court.
Boerne came out of the locker room after half-time looking refreshed and revved up. They cut the lead to 4 out of the gates and the game is now a game again. Simmons can’t seem to get a shot off and Boerne can’t seem to miss. Senior guard for Boerne, Hilary Lumpkins, has to take over for Allemand who has four fouls and gets the Chargers back into a position to make a final run.
And then comes the game changer, Sophomore Elena Gumbs for Steele. In the last two games I’ve seen Steele play, Gumbs has made her plays but she seemed more intent on running her mouth to the other team while up 50 than on making her shots. But not today. She let her play do the talking and she helped her team pull away from Champion even after Champion hit two huge threes in the 4th quarter to bring it back to a single digit lead. Gumbs couldn’t miss and Champion was in desperation mode. The game was over. All Champion could do was foul.
Boerne Champion loses 69-60 to the Steele Lady Knights and I walk out of there feeling like I just saw the 4A championship game in Austin. Amazing, amazing game.
Pictures of the game from SASports.com…
Pictures
And just for the record, I only heard Papa Simmons one time having a small coronary attack over an obvious three second violation. I didn’t even know he was there until that point. I love a good, loud, positive crowd. 
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