ROBINSON -- Add another trophy to legendary Bishop Lynch head coach Andy Zihlman’s list of accomplishments, as the Friars rolled past district foe Ursuline, 56-40, in the TAPPS Girls 6A championship Friday at Robinson High School.
“This never gets old,” said a smiling Zihlman, who now has over 1150 victories in a career that spans 44 years.
Want to see the 🐐 get a Gatorade bath? pic.twitter.com/Ju5K2NMYaX
— Bishop Lynch Athletics (@blathletics) March 2, 2024
Bishop Lynch began this title game with an 8-0 surge, and led 13-2 after the first period. “Our defense won this game,” said Zihlman. “That fueled our offense.”
Senior Mikah Ford scored a game-high 15 points while sophomore Fre Vowels added 14, including four three-pointers. Senior Ellery Sample chipped in with 12 for the Friars.
Bishop Lynch (28-12), TAPPS 6A third-ranked, avenged a pair of regular-season losses to No. 2 Ursuline (64-58 in a January 23rd overtime contest and 51-43 earlier in December).
“We beat some good powerhouse teams early in the season, including Southlake Carroll,” noted Zihlman. “Then we hit a lull when district play began. But we peaked at the right time.”
Bishop Lynch opened the playoffs with a 64-7 Area round thumping of Houston Incarnate Word and then a 53-33 victory over Tomball Concordia Lutheran in the Regional before eliminating top-ranked San Antonio Antonian 44-33 in the semifinal.
Ursuline was led by junior Annabelle Tobin, who tallied 13 points while Lily Smith added 10 more.
The Lady Bears (21-10), which received an Area round bye, knocked off Dallas Parish Episcopal 60-48 in the Regional. Ursuline then cruised to a 62-41 semifinal win over No. 8 Houston The Village, bolting to a 17-4 first quarter lead and holding a commanding 32-11 cushion at intermission. Tobin tossed in a game-high 23 points for Ursuline, including five three-point baskets and senior Madelyne Davis, a Houston Christian University signee, added 17 points in the semifinal win.
While Ursuline had no problems in advancing to the title contest, No. 3 Bishop Lynch needed a Mikah Ford basket with two seconds remaining to oust top-ranked San Antonio Antonian, 44-43, in its semifinal thriller. The Lady Friars overcame a four-point deficit with 37 seconds left to pull out the victory in reaching the title game. “That was unreal,” said an ecstatic Ford, reflecting back on the wild finish the day before. “I got the shot up just in time.”
Ursuline has advanced to the title game in all six of its state tournament appearances, all against Bishop Lynch.
The Lady Bears defeated Bishop Lynch 44-43 in the 2012 title game, its last state tourney appearance.
Mikah Ford, Fre Vowels and Ellery Sample were selected to the 10-player all-tournament team for Bishop Lynch. Annabelle Tobin, Madelyne Davis and Lily Smith were named to the squad for Ursuline.
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