Skip to main content

DEL VALLE, Texas - Junior MJ Thomas dreamed of playing in the state tournament since he was in middle school. 

Thomas can cross off that goal after Calvert held off a late surge from McMullen County to beat the Cowboys 52-46 and win the Region IV-1A Tournament Saturday afternoon.

“This is a dream come true,” Thomas said. “Since eighth grade it is something my dad and I have talked about. We set a goal and accomplished it. It is a great feeling to be sharing this with my dad.”

The Trojans are headed to the Class 1A Texas boys basketball state tournament in San Antonio and will represent Region IV as they get one step closer to play for a state title. 

“We knew that they were a great team, and they were going to turn to those threes,” Calvert head coach Michael Thompson said. “We just had to stay poised. We got tired, we had a late game last night and had to comeback to play this game. Our boys get to relax a little bit and enjoy this finally. We just have to get ready for state next week.”

The Trojans are making their first state appearance in 10 years and are looking to represent Region IV in the Final Four.

“It has been 10 years since we have been down that road and we are really looking forward,” Thompson said. “We have been working extremely hard, we had injuries, these kids are tough. Their bodies were tired, but their heart was not tired, and I am extremely proud for what they put in and what they accomplished.”

Thomas scored a game-high 25 points and was 9-of-15 from the free throw line. Kevondre Corona added 12 points for the Trojans.

Calvert (27-4) built an 8-2 lead in the opening quarter behind the offense of Kaiden Bridges and Antonio Porter. The Cowboys only points came courtesy of a pair of free throws by Brayden Serrata.

Thomas, who was double and triple teamed throughout the game, scored his first basket at the 3:49 mark of the opening quarter to give the Trojans a 12-5 lead. The Cowboys were able to utilize a 5-0 run at the end of the quarter to cut the lead to 16-10.

Senior Troy Allen, who had a stellar semifinals game on Friday night, opened the second quarter with consecutive steals and scored two quick baskets to make it a 16-14 game.

Thomas went to work in the paint, scoring three consecutive baskets for the Trojans as the Cowboys were dealt with a blow when Allen was whistled for his second foul and headed to the bench. Calvert went on to build a 32-18 halftime lead as Thomas scored 16 points.

Behind Isaiah Billingsley McCullen County came out firing in the second half. Billingsley had back-to-back baskets to help the Cowboys outscore Calvert 12-8 and make it a 10-point game when he hit a layup as time expired.

Serrata opened the fourth and final quarter with a basket after getting fouled. He was not able to convert the free throw but made it an eight-point game.

Calvert, who had been steady at the free throw line in the opening half, going 8-for-8, started to miss. The Trojans did a great job of drawing the foul but did not convert at the charity stripe.

The Cowboys, who trailed by as many as 14 points. started to rally. Serrata came down the court and connected on a triple to cut the Trojans lead to 42-35 at the 6:16 mark.

Calvert’s woes at the free throw line continued and the Cowboys took advantage. Shawn Heritage hit a layup and it was followed by a long 3-pointer by Graham Blaha to make it a 44-40 game with 4:15 remaining.

Thomas made a quick basket but on the ensuing trip down the court Serrata hits another triple to cut Calvert's 14-point lead to just two as the Trojans held a 46-44 edge with 2:27 remaining in the game.

The Trojans took a 50-44 lead on a basket by Corona with 35 seconds left and held on from there. 

PHOTO GALLERY

calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00046
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00047
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00048
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00043
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00044
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00045
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00040
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00041
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00042
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00037
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00038
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00039
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00034
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00035
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00036
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00031
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00032
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00033
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00028
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00029
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00030
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00023
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00025
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00027
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00022
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00024
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00026
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00019
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00020
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00021
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00016
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00017
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00018
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00013
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00014
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00015
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00010
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00011
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00012
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00007
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00008
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00009
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00004
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00005
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00006
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00001
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00002
calvert mccullen county texas basketball playoffs00003