Martin's Mill upsets Lipan to win Texas UIL boys 2A Division II state championship; live updates, recap

Nation's 3-point leader Jak Kinder wins 2A Division II finals MVP

Lipan's Court Gaylor hopes to help his Indians repeat as champions in their 2A Division II state championship against Martin's Mill on Thursday, March 6 at The Alamodome in San Antonio. / Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Something rare will happen when No. 1 Ben Wheeler Martin’s Mill takes on No. 2 Lipan in the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 2A Division II state championship on Thursday, March 6.

Someone will lose. That doesn't happen much for either of these teams.

In a true battle of 1 vs. 2, the Mustangs roll into Thursday’s 5 p.m. game inside The Alamodome in San Antonio sporting a 35-1 mark. The Indians are 34-4.

The last time Lipan, the reigning 2A state champions in the final year before the UIL split each class into divisions, and Martin’s Mill met up, it was Dec. 28 of this season. That clash had the ingredients of a state championship game.

When they meet again Thursday, it’ll be time to cook.

In that game, a fierce defensive battle, Lipan held a 20-13 lead at the half, but the Mustangs went on a 15-4 run in the third quarter before the teams traded blows down the stretch. In the end, Martin’s Mill held on to preserve the comeback 39-36.

Junior 6-foot-2 forward Cooper Wright led the Mustangs with 10 points in that game, while 6-foot senior guard Jak Kinder added nine points and 5-11 guard Travis Baber added eight.

Lipan has won 18 straight since that night. Fittingly enough, the Mustangs have won 17 straight. Their only loss was a 61-59 decision to 3A Division I state finalist Tatum (31-2) on Dec. 27 – one game before besting Lipan. Tatum opened that game on an 18-8 run and held on despite the Mustangs outscoring them in each of the final three quarters.

Check back often as we will be posting live scores and updates for the Class 2A Division II state championship game on this page in the space below throughout the game. We’ll also have scoring leaders and stats for you. You can also watch the game on NFHS Network.

Class 2A Division II bracket:

Class 2A Division II

Martin’s Mill vs. Lipan: Texas UIL boys Class 2A Division II state championship; live updates, recap

We're about to get started in the Class 2A Division II state championship. Here are the starting lineups:

Martin's Mill: Archer Schneider, Sawyer Moore, Jak Kinder, Travis Baber, Ryder Marsh.

Lipan: Brayden Harrison, Payton Cornelius, Court Gaylor, Evan Lott, Darius Steed

FIRST QUARTER

Lott sinks a 3-pointer to break the scoreless tie and Lipan leads 3-0.

Steed scores on a layup and No. 2 Lipan is off to a 5-0 lead with 5:20 left in the first period.

Steed hits another jumper and Martin's Mill calls timeout with 5:01 left in the quarter. The Indians lead 7-0.

Martin's Mill gets on the board with a pair of free throws by Schneider. It's 7-2 with 4:02 left in the first. Martin's Mill still hasn't connected from the field, going 0-for-4, including 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.

Schneider makes one of two free throws with 3:38 left in the period to trim the deficit to 7-3. Schneider follows with a 3-pointer with 3:08 left to make it 7-6. Martin's Mill had a huge defensive block right before Schneider's trey.

Kinder drains a 3-pointer for Martin's Mill with 32 seconds left in the first quarter to tie it at 11.

End 1: Martin's Mill 11, Lipan 11

SECOND QUARTER

Cooper Wright scores to open the second half and Martin's Mill leads 13-11.

Schneider sinks two free throws and Martin's Mill extends its lead to 15-12 with 5:54 left in the half.

Lipan cuts it to one, but Schneider hits a 3-pointer for Martin's Mill to make it 18-14 and Kinder hits a 3-pointer falling away and is fouled. He completes the four-point play to make it 21-14.

Billy Smith drains a 3-pointer and Lipan trims it to 21-17. Desperately needed that one.

Freshman Brayden Harrison drives and scores on a trick shot for Lipan to further trim the deficit to 21-19 with 1:58 left in the half. Harrison was fouled on the play and hits the free throw to make it 21-20.

Kinder scores right before the half and Martin's Mill takes a 23-20 lead into the half.

Halftime: Martin's Mill 23, Lipan 20

Halftime notes: Brayden Harrison and Darius Steed lead Lipan with five points apiece. ... The Mustangs made 8 of 23 shots (34.8 percent) in the first half. ... Martin's Mill is led by Archer Schneider with 11 points, while Jak Kinder has eight. ... The Indians made 7 of 18 shots (38.9 percent) in the first half.

THIRD QUARTER

Schneider gets on the board to start the second half. Martin's Mill extends its lead to 25-20, but Steed gets a free throw and a layup to cut it to 25-23.

Big man Travis Baber and Schneider follow with baskets for Martin's Mill, and the lead grows to 29-23.

Lott scores with 3:52 left in the third to trim Lipan's deficit to 31-29.

Ryder Marsh hits a jumper, his first points of the game, for Martin's Mill and the Mustangs take a timeout with 2:39 left in the quarter. It's 33-29, Martin's Mill.

Kinder drains a 3-pointer at the 2:01 mark and the Mustangs extend their lead to 36-29.

Marsh scores again with 22 seconds left in the third and Martin's Mill takes a 38-29 lead into the fourth.

End 3: Martin's Mill 38, Lipan 29

FOURTH QUARTER

Harrison hits a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter for Lipan to cut it to 38-32, but Marsh follows with another basket to make it 40-32.

Kinder's basket with 6:44 left makes it 42-32, Mustangs.

Smith hits a jumper and Lipan calls timeout with 5:55 remaining. Martin's Mill leads 42-34.

Gaylor scores while getting fouled for Lipan with 5:12 remaining and completes the three-point play to cut into the deficit. Martin's Mill leads 42-37.

Kinder answers for Martin's Mill with a 3-pointer of his own with 4:40 to go. He has 16 points. Martin's Mill leads 45-37. Timeout with 3:43 to go.

Wright scores inside to push the Mustangs' lead to 47-37. There's 2:52 remaining.

Lipan has gone over 3 minutes without a basket here in the fourth quarter.

Kinder makes two free throws. The Mustangs are on a 7-0 run and it's 49-37. Lipan hasn't scored in the last 3 minutes, 38 seconds. There's 1:34 left in the game.

The Indians get a pair of free throws but still hasn't had a basket in the last 4:06. There's 1:05 remaining. They trail 52-39.

Lott hits a 3-pointer for the Indians with 53 seconds left to break the scoring drought and cuts it to 52-42. Timeout for Lipan.

Moore hits one of two free throws for Martin's Mill with 52 seconds left to make it 53-42.

Schneider makes a free throw with 24 seconds left and it's 55-43.

Final: Martin's Mill 55, Lipan 43

Recap: In a game that was close the entire way, Martin's Mill dug out of an early hole and Lipan shot just 1 of 11 down the stretch in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs pulled off the upset and claimed the state title.

Jak Kinder, the nation's boys 3-point leader, won 2A Division II finals MVP after leading all scorers with 19 points, including three 3s, for the Mustangs, while Archer Schneider rattled in 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Evan Lott led Lipan with 10 points, while Brayden Harrison and Court Gaylor had nine apiece.

Martin's Mill completes the Texas two-step, with the girls winning the state title last week. It is the first boys title for the Mustangs program since 1949.