SAN ANTONIO — A year ago, Flower Mound Marcus experienced what it was like to reach the mountaintop. This year, the team got a taste of what it’s like trying to remain there.
The different perspectives haven’t kept Marcus from remaining on the same trajectory — poised to claim the ultimate prize.
Asher Brunner scored eight goals and Deven Lloyd added six first-half goals as Flower Mound Marcus outlasted Boerne Champion 22-16 on Friday in a semifinal match at the UIL Class 6A water polo state tournament at Josh Davis Natatorium.
In winning a rematch of last year’s state final, Marcus (23-0) extended its winning streak to 32 games. They will play League City Clear Creek (31-0-1) at noon Saturday in the state final.
“We definitely had to work hard to get here,” Brunner said. “Last year, we had an insane team; lost a lot of players that went and played in college. We kind of had to rebuild our team around a few freshmen, sophomores coming up from the junior varsity and the remaining people we had from last year. We got it done.”
But wasn’t as easy as the final score might suggest. Boerne Champion (23-5), which was at state for the third straight year, didn’t go down without a fight.
Bexon Harrison tallied six goals, Will Harrison and Julius Hoxhaj netted four apiece, and Ethan Altermatt chipped in two, helping the Chargers pull within 11-10 at the intermission in the second meeting this season between the squads, Marcus prevailed 12-11 at a tournament.
“When we came into this game, we knew our team was a lot better than the beginning of this season,” Brunner said.
Marcus proved that point, with Brunner leading the way. A junior, he scored six times in the second half and received plenty of help from Connor Smith, who put in all three of his goals over the final 14 minutes.
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