MONTEREY HOLDS OFF ARGYLE TO ADVANCE TO THE 5A DII STATE SEMIFINAL

Moody Coliseum, Abilene TX— Monterey’s Lady Plainsmen come into this game already surpassing where they made it to last year as they were knocked out in the third round by Amarillo’s Sandies and now took on Argyle in the 5A DII Regional Final.

Last game, Aaliyah Chavez scored 50 points in a game for the ninth time in her illustrious career so the nation was tuned in and excited to see what she and her team would do against the Argyle Eagles, who eliminated Plainview, 50-34 in their previous round to get here as well.

In the first quarter, Monterey jumped out to a 10-2 lead behind buckets from Aaliyah Chavez and Ambrosia Cole and some furious defense from Ari Johnson. And after a great start, Monterey led Argyle, 14-4 after one.

In the second quarter, Argyle went on a 7-0 run to make the score 15-11 with six minutes to go in the half. After a Monterey timeout, Chavez hit a three-pointer and Ari Johnson scored on an inside bucket to push the Lady Plainsmen to a 20-11 lead. Argyle went on a 7-0 run to end the half and closed the gap to within five as they went into the half down, 25-20.

In the third, Chavez and Cole both scored quickly and made the score 31-20 in favor of Monterey with 6:16 to go in the tilt and Ari Johnson added a great layup to push the lead out for Monterey to 35-20 after a 10-0 run with 4:40 to go in the quarter. Argyle kept fighting and cut the lead to 36-32 with 1:40 to go in the third with back-to-back threes. And at the end of the third, Monterey led, 42-36.

In the final stanza, Argyle and Monterey went back and forth with the score, 51-44 Monterey with five minutes to go in the game. Argyle responded with a 6-0 run to pull within one, 53-52, with 1:29 to go in the game. Ambrosia Cole made two clutch free throws to give the Lady Plainsmen a 55-52 lead with :24 seconds to go and Monterey held off a tough Argyle team to advance to the 5A DII State Semifinal Round on Monday or Tuesday night!