STATE TOURNAMENT
The Muenster Hornets have only won 18 basketball games this season.
You’ll have to excuse the Hornets for being late to the party, they were a little busy taking the Class 2A, Division II football championship with a 27-20 victory over Tenaha to put the cap on a 16-0 season.
By appearing at the 98th UIL state tournament this week, the Hornets are attempting to join the exclusive club of winning state championships in football and basketball in the same school year.
The last team to accomplish the feat was Canadian in 2016—a squad that knocked Thorndale out of the tournament in the semifinals.
Only six other schools are on that special list.
Like Thorndale, Muenster has impressive size for a Class 2A school.
Riding a 16-game winning streak, the Hornets are led by athletic 6-foot-3 guard John Weger, who averages 19 points and five rebounds a game and has been known to dunk on people.
Muenster is formidable inside with 6-foot-6 senior Kody Walterscheid
(10.4 ppg, 9.4 reb), 6-foot-5 sophomore Dan Luttmer (11.5 ppg, 5.3 reb) and 6-foot-5 sophomore Major Eldridge (6.5 ppg, 4.8 reb).
“It’s a luxury,” said Muenster Coach Lynn Cook of the balanced scoring. “Who are you going to stop? Pick your poison. It’s not all coming from one guy.”
While it has been Thorn-dale that has been ranked No. 1 for the majority of the season, it’s Muenster who remains the hunted.
“Every time we step on the floor this whole year, we’ve got a target on our back because we’re the defending state champions,” Cook said. “We talk about competing every single time we go out on the floor in practice and in game.
“This bunch of young men do a great job competing. It doesn’t matter what the opponent’s uniform says or what town they’re from, we’re going to give our best effort. Sometimes we’re going to win and sometimes we’re going to lose, but it’s not going to be for a lack of effort.”
It was Muenster that wore the No. 1 badge in last year’s tournament and in 2016, the Hornets fell to the aforementioned Canadian in the state title game.
The Hornets lost two starters off last year’s champions, but have reloaded without much dropoff.
Muenster started the season 1-4 while they were trying to get their footing and work the football players in the rotation.
The Hornets defeated Celeste 51-45 in regional finals.
The others
Stinnett West Texas (34-2) is making its first trip to the state tournament and have won 10 in a row.
Stinnett, which dropped a district game to Sanford-Fritch, disposed of Stratford 56-45 in the regional fi nals.
Shelbyville (32-4) is making its third appearance at state and first since 1984 when they whipped Somerville for the Class 2A crown behind postman Jeff Cumby.
The Dragons pounded Grapeland 54-40 in regional finals and have won 16 of their last 17.
Sophomore point guard Jakevion Buckley (15.4 ppg) leads the way with help from sophomore shooting guard Jordan Boykins (15.3 ppg), 6-foot-5 power forward junior Cole Ferguson (13.9 ppg).
Shelbyville lost to Tenaha by 31 points in district play after handling them earlier.
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