Randall shocks Canyon for first ever trip to boys basketball state tournament
LUBBOCK — The Randall boys basketball team was in a state of pure euphoria, jumping up and down on the court Saturday afternoon inside the Rip Griffin Center in a state of pure euphoria. One by one, each member of the basketball team ran up to head coach Leslie Broadhurst and embraced him.
The Canyon boys basketball team sullenly gathered on the opposite side of the arena in a state of utter shock, disbelief and dejection. Each member of the squad seemed to be at a total loss as to what had just transpired.
What caused the differing scenes to transpire?
The Eagles knocked off the Raiders twice in the regular season, once by nine and another time by double digits. Canyon was ranked fourth by TABC for much of the season, while Randall was 19th. The Canyon Eagles had knocked off the defending state champions the day before, while the Randall Raiders had never been to the state tournament.
Yet at the end of the Region I-4A championship, it was the Randall Raiders who beat the Canyon Eagles 58-44 to advance to state tournament for the first time in program history.
For many, including Canyon, the sense around the building was one of shock. Even Broadhurst could not believe that for the first time in his 35 years coaching the Raiders, he was finally going to the state tournament.
"I'm an old guy man," he said with a laugh. "We've worked a long time for this. This is for a lot of guys that played for us before that came close. I got texts from players, who played for me 25 years ago, who were really excited. Man, it just feels awesome."
It wasn't just the fact that the Raiders won, it was how they won.
The first time the Raiders and Eagles played this season, Randall led by one point late in the game only to lose by nine in a game in which the Raiders missed 12 free throws. The second time the two teams played, Randall fell behind 19-0 before managing to get back within four only to lose by double digits all the same.
But on Saturday, the game was 9-9 midway through the first quarter before the Raiders closed out on a 7-0 run. Randall led by as many as 24 points from that point on and Canyon never got closer than 10 the rest of the afternoon.
What could have made the difference?
"Coaching and our energy," Randall center Zak Bol said. "We played hard, our coach changed stuff up so that we were really prepared for this game."
KJ Thomas led the way with 14 points and five steals while Taysen Combs scored 11. Canyon was led by Kemper Jones' 17 points and Gage Lunsford's 10 points.
Now Randall heads to San Antonio for the first time ever. What has to happen for the boys basketball program to join the volleyball and tennis team in winning state? Broadhurst chuckled to himself before answering honestly.
"I've never been before," he said with his signature smile. "I'm not too sure."
REGION I-4A CHAMPIONSHIP
Randall 58, Canyon 44
Randall 16 19 11 12 — 58
Canyon 9 8 14 13 — 44
Randall (30-9): Zak Bol 5, JJ Buchanon 9, KJ Thomas 14, Tayesen Combs 11, Brody Wilson 5, Devin Baccas 8, Cayden Soto 6
Canyon (31-3): Ian Armstrong 6, Gage Lunsford 10, Kemper Jones 17, Kelson Jones 9, Chris Bryant 2
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Randall shocks Canyon for first ever trip to boys basketball state tournament
