No. 14 Wall Takes Down Brady to Claim Bi-District Championship

"Like I told our guys, we got sent home in the first round last year," Wall head coach Parker Roberts said. "It's everybody's job to get into the dance, but once you are in, it's zero-zero. So we always have to come ready to play. I don't care if we win by one point or how we won tonight, it's just nice to get a gold ball and move on to the next one."

Wall jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter. Brady kept close enough to hang around but still trailed 17-10 headed to the second. The Bulldogs came alive after that, outscoring Wall 7-3 early in the quarter. Sean Jacoby hit a three-pointer with just over five minutes to play in the half to bring Brady within three points. However, it was then Wall’s turn to go on a run. The Hawks scored 13 points unanswered to end the half, nine of those by Thompson, and Wall led 33-17 at the break.

Wall’s tough defense continued in the third quarter, keeping Brady at bay while scoring several easy baskets in transition. The Hawks went on a 15-3 run in third that the Bulldogs finally stopped with 30 seconds left until the final quarter. Wall’s tough defense gave them a 51-22 lead at the end of three.

The Hawks continued to pour it on in the fourth until it was time for the backups to get some playoff experience. Brady fought hard until the bitter end, even scoring several times in the final minutes, but never seriously threatened Wall again. The Hawks claimed victory and a bi-district championship, 64-31.

Wall's Thompson led all scorers in the contest with 21 points. Most impressively, he scored all his points in three quarters as he sat for most of the fourth quarter. When asked about his offensive production, he gave all the credit to the other members on Wall's roster.

"My teammates, of course," Thompson said. "Just straight, my teammates."

While Thompson led the Hawks in scoring, multiple members on the roster contributed, including Paxton Brake with 13 points, Will Tennell adding 11 points, and Jaxson Kirkland, who scored eight points.

Blane James led Brady with eight points, followed by senior DeMarcus Reed with seven points and Sean Jacoby, who added five points.

Thompson was also a member of the football team that claimed a 3A Division II state title late last fall. He said that winning another one in a different sport would mean everything.

"It would be out of this world,"  Thompson concluded. "It's unexplainable winning a state title, and it will take effort every single day, in practice, to keep it rolling."

With Wall's already impressive resume in other sports this school year, a football state title and a semifinal appearance from the volleyball team, to go along with the No. 1 Lady Hawks basketball team chasing their own title, there might be something in the water out in Wall.

Wall (29-5) now advances to the area round. The date and time are still to be determined, but Wall will play the winner between Tolar and Henrietta.

While it may have been a disappointing end to the Brady Bulldogs' season, who finished with a 12-16 record, there is much to build on for next season.