Summer Creek Storms Back with Fourth Quarter Comeback Shocking no. 10 ranked Cedar Hill; Claims State Championship

Senior Kennedy Simpson takes home the UIL TX-6A-I MVP with 21 point performance as Bulldogs win close out game in dramatic come from behind fashion

The Summer Creek Lady Bulldogs won the UIL TX-6A, Division 1 girl's basketball state championship in dramatic, come from behind fashion erasing an 18 point second half deficit. / Ryan Childers

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Never give up. Always continue to fight to the last whistle and the clock hits 0:00.

With their backs against the wall, the Summer Creek Lady Bulldogs erased an 18-point third quarter deficit outscoring the Cedar Hill Longhorns 22-7 in the final period to win the Texas high school girl's basketball state championship on Saturday night in the Alamodome.

Junior guard Kennedy Simpson played a pivotal role, scoring 21 points—including 14 free throws—and earning MVP honors. Her clutch free throws in the final minute helped secure the victory.

Along with Simpson's clutch free throws down the stretch and a key three pointer, fellow senior guard Endia Thomas was able to battle back from a 0-4 shooting through three periods to hitting two key three pointers keying her Bulldogs' comeback.

"Coach [Marshall] told us going into the fourth quarter to just keep fighting and to never give up," Simpson said. "If there is still time on the clock, we still have time to make it happen. We just kept fighting to make it happen."

The senior guard Thomas reiterated Simpson's words about coach's message about never giving up and to continue fighting until the end.

"I was thinking defense, defense, defense wins games," Thomas said. "We have to pick it up on the defensive side. We are a defensive team."

In the final period, it was just one basket at a time for the Bulldogs and getting second opportunities with securing offensive rebounds by their two forwards down low in sophomore Erin Newsom and senior Taiya Kikunga - Newsom hauled down five offensive rebounds on the night helping create those second chance points for the lady Bulldogs.

"Honestly, it just took for the both of us to realize and communicate to each other, 'This is our game. These are our rebounds," Newsom said. "We have to do this, it is not just for us, but it is for the team to win."

Coming into the game, Marshall and her team knew there were two ways that the Longhorns had a chance at beating her Bulldogs - rebounds and turnovers.

"It was just those subtle reminders in our huddles and halftime that we have to rebound the basketball if we want to win," Marshall said. "That is something Cedar Hill does very, very well and once that reminder got set in, the girls locked in and got the job done."

With their fourth quarter efforts, the Bulldogs were able to not only erase the deficit on the scoreboard, but in the box score as well - Summer Creek for the game won the rebounding advantage 31-29 and turnover differential as well, 23-19.

"These girls have battled all year long and faced adversity all year long," said first year Bullldog head coach Kiera Marshall. "Then tonight, to go through another huge adverse situation and come out on top is absolutely phenomenal."

Summer Creek overcame the deficit and became the first girl's basketball team to win a state championship in school history and first team to win in Humble Independent School District history.

"This feels absolutely amazing. This group of kids is just a special group," Marshall said. "These girls have battled through three different coaches in three years and that is just so tough. That toughness showed tonight, they are so used to dealing with hard situations and them being the first team to win a state championship means so much because of everything they dealt with to get here."

For the Cedar Hill Longhorns, they finish the season with a 29-9 overall record and senior forward Brooklyn King led them Saturday night with 18 points.

No. 10 ranked Cedar Hill v Summer Creek Battle for the UIL 6A-1 state championship: Game updates below

• Final: Summer Creek storms back and shocks the Longhorns to claim state title, 52-49

• Longhorns' Risby final three point shot was off the mark. Bulldogs chase down loose rebound

• Simpson adds two free throws to give the Bulldogs lead back.

• Risby knocks down a corner three to even the scoring.

• Kennedy Simpson give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game with a spot up, knock down 3 off a second chance rebound by Newsom.

• After Trinity Thomas connected on a floater, the Bulldog's Thomas found herself open for another three point bomb. Longhorn head down to 4.

• The Longhorn lead is down to just 5. Senior guard Endia Thomas added a big time three. Newsom with another mid-range jumper as the Bulldogs are on a 7-0 run.

• Sophomore forward Erin Newsom gets the Bulldogs on the board to start final period.

FOURTH PERIOD

• The Longhorns are 8 minutes away from a TX-6A-1 Division title. Summer Creek has continued to still struggle to find any rhythm offensively as they have only made nine field goals.

• King continues to deliver at the right moment for the Longhorns getting another bucket out of the low block. She now has 18 points to lead all scorers.

• Senior Taiya Kikunga for the Bulldogs has come in providing spark off the bench with her rebounding and four quick points.

• Longhorns leading by 16.

• Cedar Hill getting out on the run in transition with sophomore Dawn Jones getting the fast break layup and King continues to show off her offensive game with two nice jumpers in the mid-range and low block.

THIRD PERIOD

• Halftime Leaders: Cedar Hill - Brooklyn King leads the way with 10 points and for Summer Creek's Addison Martin pacing the Bulldogs with 9 points.

• Halftime: Cedar Hill takes a double-digit lead into the break leading Summer Creek 31-19 after the first two periods. Summer Creek shooting just 6-25 from the field and has turned the ball over 8 times.

• Cedar Hill senior forward Brooklyn King adds her second three-pointer of the night and 2 free throws and sophomore Dawn Jones gets a fast break layup to extend the Longhorn 7-0 run to start the second period.

SECOND PERIOD

• Cedar Hill clinging to just a 2 point lead as Summer Hill continues to fight and settle into this game. Kennedy Simpson seems to be the Bulldog bucket getter when they need one finding two early layups to slow down down Longhorn momentum.

• Bulldog Full timeout. The Longhorns have jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with some pressure defense a corner three by Makiyah Risby.

FIRST PERIOD