McKINNEY, Texas-For the third year in a row, two teams battle it out on the hardwood for a spot in the regional finals.
Clarksville tips off against familiar foe Muenster in the Region II-2A semifinals today at 6 p.m. in McKinney North High School's Lion Gym.
The Blue Tigers are ranked fourth in the state, while the Hornets are the No. 1 team. Last year, Muenster defeated Clarksville 59-48 and upset the favored Blue Tigers in 2015, 72-58. The leading scorers from last year's meeting all return as seniors this year for each team.
"It's the third year for most of our kids going against Muenster," Clarksville head coach Willie Coulter said. "We can't be anything but focused and hungry. It will be a good game."
Starters for the Blue Tigers (28-6) include 6-foot-8 senior power forward Clashon Gaffney, senior guards Rayzon Allen and Detavion Lewis, senior forward Quintin Wallace and junior guard Ranzae Daniels.
Clarksville is on a 17-game win streak and won the state championship in 2012, 1998 and 1995. The Blue Tigers routed Big Sandy 72-43 in the regional quarterfinal round Tuesday and average 60 points per game in the postseason. Clarksville has given up an average of 30.6 points
in the playoffs.
"Muenster gets up and down the floor well, and they know how to play the game but so do we," Coulter said. "I think we'll be fine, and we have it all mapped out."
Hornet head coach Lynn Cook is 120-16 in the past four years, and Muenster (29-6) made two state finals appearances with one in 2016 and one in 2014.
The Hornets are coming off a 26-15 win over Petrolia in the regional quarterfinals. Muenster averages 50 points per contest in the playoffs and give up a mere 24.3.
The winner will play either No. 10 Electra (27-4) or No. 24 Dallas Gateway (14-4) in the Region II-2A finals Saturday at 1 pm. at McKinney North High School. The winner of Saturday's final will advance to the state tournament in San Antonio next week.
Electra and Dallas Gateway tip off after the Clarksville-Muenster game today at 8 p.m.