'Defense Wins Games, Rebounds Wins Championships' ; Ryan Claims First Ever Girl's Basketball State Championship

From counted out and underdogs, the Lady Raiders still believed and battled for 32 minutes to claim the school's first girl's basketball state championship; 58-47

The Denton Ryan Lady Raiders hoist the state championship trophy on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome after their Texas high school girl's basketball state championship victory over the Wagner Thunderbirds, 58-47. / Ryan Childers

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - 'Defense wins games - Rebounds win championships.'

And, for Denton-Ryan Raiders head coach Monesha Allen this has been the message she mimicked to her ladies all season long. The Raiders (32-7) outrebounded the no. 1 ranked San Antonio Wagner Thunderbirds 39-23 to pave the way to the state title.

It was the strong inside-outside play from junior forward Kaylin Jackson and the tournament MVP with her 24 total points and eight rebounds setting the tone early and often for the Raiders.

"It is like a trust thing that I have with my teammates and that they have with me," Jackson said. "They trust me to make my own shots, make my own plays and I trust them to get me the ball and for them to go ahead and make their own shots. It is just a bond that I have with my teammates."

The Raiders used two different quarter breaks to regroup and take control of this game. To begin the second period, Ryan started the quarter on an 11-2 run helping lead them to a 26-21 halftime advantage.

It was the shooting of sophomore guard Jamyla Anderson knocking down two long-range threes to get the Raiders the lead.

After Wagner clawed their way back into an even scoring third quarter as their five-star senior point guard La Sneed knocked down a triple to even the game at 31-31. It was Ryan's Jackson that sparked the next Raiders 17-2 run to end the third quarter and to begin the fourth quarter scoring 12 of her team's leading 24-points.

"Just resilence," Allen said about her team's ability to pull away late in the third quarter. "We have weathered the storm this year. It is funny how physical the game is, but also how mental. We have had to work on the mental side so much and if we did not do what we done mentally, there was no way we finish this game today - at least top."

The junior MVP was joined in double-figures by fellow junior point guard Zaviyana Madison who added 15 points for the Raiders, and their third member of the junior trio, Kinley Lewis, was instrumental with 10 total rebounds.

For the Lady Thunderbirds, their senior Utah commit, Sneed, scored a game-high 29-points shooting 9-26 from the floor.

The Raider head coach said that winning a state championship is something that you dream of every year, and their junior trio said they all knew from the first day of practice this team could bring home the school's first state title.

"First day at practice, everyone at Ryan is going to tell you, 'We can put that banner up that says state champion 2025," said Lewis. "We knew it was possible. I do not know much we believed our coaches that day, but they told us every day we could win a state title. It gave us the confidence to keep pushing through."

Scoring Updates Below:

(1) SA Wagner vs. Denton-Ryan : Texas UIL 5A-I state championship; Final Score.

Wagner Starters: La Sneed, A'Rielle Williams, Nia McBride, Jenae Moore, Nahilah Bell

Denton Ryan Starters: Zaviyana Madison, Atiya Everett, Kinley Lewis, Jamyla Anderson, Kaylin Jackson

Final Score

Ryan wins the TX-5A-I State Championship 58-47

Fourth Period

4Q: Ryan: 54-42: 1:31 - Ryan is starting to feel their first state championship. The Thunderbirds have had no answers in the fourth to slow down the Raider offense.

Junior point guard Zaviyana Madison is carving up her way into the paint on some nice out-of-bounds plays for 15 points on the night.

4Q: Ryan: 48-33: 5:20- The Raiders are pulling away quickly in the fourth. Their lead is now 15 opening up the final quarter on a 10-0 run. Kaylin Jackson is a force down low with 22 points now in the game.

4Q: Ryan: 41-33: 7:08 - Jackson has found her shooting touch from behind the arc as she opens up the final quarter with a three ball.

Third Period

3Q: Ryan: 38-33: End of Three - Wow. Intense final two minutes. The Raiders are answering anything Wagner is throwing at them at cutting into the deficit.

After Sneed evened the game with a three - Kinley Jackson said, Right back at you to take lead back and then Madison connected on a mid-range jumper to extend lead to 5.

3Q: Ryan: 29-28: 2:14 - Wagner's Sneed makes a nice drive to the basket to get the lead back for the Thunderbirds, but then on a second chance rebound and some ball movement the Raider's Kinley Lewis knocks down a triple from the top of they key.

3Q: Ryan: 26-24: 4:20 - Timeout Ryan. Wagner continues to put the pressure on trying to climb back into the game. The Raiders have committed 5 fouls to the Thunderbirds 0 in the period. Foul trouble could come into play coming down the strech in the final 12 minutes of the game.

3Q: Ryan: 26-22: 4:50 - The fanatic pace from the end of the first half has continued into the third quarter with some intense, defensive pressure. Wagner has sped Ryan up to hold them scoreless, however the Thunderbirds still trail four with only 1 third quarter point.

Wagner is 1-8 from the charity stripe in the quarter.

Halftime Scoring leaders:

For Wagner, Sneed leads the way with 9 points and and Kinley Jackson is the game-high scorer with 10 points for the Raiders.

Halftime: Ryan leading 26-21 - The intensity picked up in the final minute of the first half with some pressure defense by Wagner trying to cut into their deficit. The Thunderbirds had an opportunity to knock down four free throws, but only were able to hit one.

Second Period

2Q: Ryan: 24-18 4:09 - Junior Kaylin Jackson is starting to get comfortable controlling the paint with her scoring and rebounds. She now has 8 points and 6 rebounds.

2Q: Ryan: 20-12: 5:30 - Ryan has come out firing to start the second quarter with a 9-0 to open up its lead.

Madison opened up with four points in the quarter and Anderson knocked down a big three.

First Period:

1Q; Wagner ; 7-2; 4:07- Wagner is off to setting the early tone on the defensive end forcing tough Raider shots. Senior point guard La Sneed has the game's first four points - transition floater and two free throws off a foul in transition from her second steal.

Thunderbird senior Jenae Moore knocks her first triple to extend the lead.

1Q; Wagner; 7-6; 1:47: Sophomore Raider guard Jamyla Anderson drawls the blocking foul on Sneed and knocks down two free throws.

Raiders tie game off an offensive rebound and put back.

Sneed breaks the tie with a two tough finishes at the rim in the final minute of the first quarter.

End of 1: Wagner: 12-11: La Sneed leading all scorers with eight points as Zaviyana Madison leads the Raiders with five points.