BLEED FOR THIS: Gruver survives Panhandle rally and heads back to state
LEVELLAND - Brenna Butler spilt blood on the floor of the Texan Dome trying to send the Gruver Lady Hounds back to the 2A state tournament. With gauze sticking out of her nose, she made an impressive move inside the paint to sink a layup and put Gruver up by two points against Panhandle, only to see the Ettes tie the game up once again.
With time ticking off the clock, the Oklahoma State commit did what star players are supposed to do and took the would-be game-winning three pointer. Only Butler's shot missed off the rim with 14 seconds left to go.
It was in that moment that Allie Sparks became the hero Gruver needed.
Sparks collected the rebound and tipped the ball in to put Gruver up 38-36 with 14 ticks left on the clock. Panhandle's final shot of the game missed the net and the rim as the Lady Hounds held off a furious rally attempt by the Ettes to punch their ticket back to the 2A state tournament in Levelland.
Butler, who suffers from chronic nosebleeds, wasn't too upset about her miss given the end result.
"That was just how we drew it up," she said with a laugh.
Just like they drew it up. Having your leading scorer miss a shot and place the fate of your season in the hands of a player that had only made one basket all game. No pressure, right?
"I mean," Sparks said with a laugh. "It felt (like pressure), but it was fine."
It was a final result that mirrored Gruver's season in that it was unexpected. After winning state for the second time in three years last season, it graduated the bulk of its offense with four seniors, including Texas Tech guard Bailey Maupin. There were a lot of question about whether the Lady Hounds would have the offensive firepower this season to make another run.
According to head coach Trent Lankford, it wasn't about finding more scoring.
"They created their own identity," Lankford said. "That identity has been grittiness. It's not always pretty. I wish we could win games a little prettier than what we do sometimes, but it's grittiness, toughness and we've had different girls step up in different roles."
The Lady Hounds certainly had different girls step up in different ways on Saturday. While Butler led the way with 10 points, Hannon Lankford made a trio of three-pointers, including two in the first quarter to help Gruver take a 16-7 lead after the first quarter.
When the Ettes battled back in the fourth quarter from being down 12 at one point, it was Butler that stepped up to make what looked like it would be the game-winning layup. With a minute left, however, Panhandle's Leah Sherwood came up with a steal and got the ball to Grace Sims who tied it up on a layup.
Then, with 14 seconds left, Sparks stepped up in the role of game-winner, advancing Gruver to the state tournament once again.
So, what are they going to do this week in San Antonio?
"We're planning on winning," Sparks said. "We're going to work really hard, just take each game at a time and give it all to God."
2A Region I Championship girls basketball
Gruver 38 Panhandle 36
Panhandle 7 7 11 11 -36
Gruver 16 8 8 6 -38
Gruver (29-5): Brenna Butler 10, Brooklyn Vasquez 5, Maizie Kelp 3, Kimber Whitehad 7, Allie Sparks 4, Hannon Lankford 9
Panhandle (29-8): Avery Cathey 11, Katelyn Haney 2, Sydnee Adee 2, Leah Sherwood 2, Taylor Brinkley 2, Grace Sims 8, Ann Garrison 5, Savannah Sinclair 4
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: BLEED FOR THIS: Gruver survives Panhandle rally and heads back to state
