Bushland celebrates during its dominating win against Holliday in the Region I-3A championship Saturday night in Childress. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
Bushland came out focused, intense, and never gave Holliday a chance as the Lady Falcons claimed a second straight Region I-3A championship routing the Lady Eagles 25-6, 25-13, 25–16 in Childress Saturday night.
Bushland (29-2 overall) is headed back to the Class 3A state semifinal to take on Region 2-3A champ Gunter (29-3) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Vernon.
Due to the University Interscholastic League’s COVID-19 restrictions the state semifinal will be played at a neutral site rather than the Culwell Center in Garland this week. Bushland head coach Jason Culpepper says he doesn’t care where his team plays just as long as they are able to compete.
“We love the UIL letting us play,” Culpepper said. “This is a senior group that is awesome. Now we’re getting back to the semi’s to finish up some business from last year. But we don’t care where we play, we’ll play in Vega it doesn’t matter to us.”
If the Lady Falcons do beat Gunter they will play in the Garland Center for the program’s fifth state title at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Bushland established its dominance in the opening set against Holliday (23-5). The Lady Falcons left the Lady Eagles and their fans stunned opening a 9-1 lead on the way to a 25-6 victory. In the second set, trailing 6-4, here came Bushland on the attack again with eight straight points, and a 25-13 second set win.
“It was probably the best we played all year,” senior setter Taryn Schultz said. “We all came out with a certain mindset to come out fast and hit them hard. I think we did that very well.”
Schultz dished out 18 assists and made two blocks. Bushland challenged Holliday at the net time and time again with hitters Kinly Rudder and Hallie Conklin. Conklin was all over the court earning a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. The powerful Rudder, a lefty, hammered down 13 kills and made two blocks.
“We were ready to go,” Rudder said. “We’ve been here before and we’re ready to keep going.”
Canyon season ends to Decatur
A fantastic run unfortunately ended for Canyon at the hands of No. 3-ranked Decatur in the Region I-4A finals on Thursday in Vernon.
The Lady Eagles ended a fantastic season at 19-6 overall. Decatur (27-1) advances to the Class 4A state semifinals.
Raylee Bain made 14 kills, Ryne Roden added 37 assists.
District 3-5A
The Amarillo High Lady Sandies tied the bow on an unbeaten district season beating Caprock 25-14, 25-15, 12.
The Lady Sandies end the regular season on a 16-game win streak, improving to 16-4 and 10-0. AHS will be the No. 1-seed out of District 3-5A.
Tascosa (11-7) and Randall (12-4) tied for second at 7-3 overall. The Lady Rebels won a flip and will be the No. 2-seed in the playoffs. Randall will be a No. 3. C
Caprock and Plainview are going to have a play-in game for the fourth spot. The two teams split the season series at 3-7. The play-in game will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in Hereford.
Scores
Region I-3A championship
Bushland def. Holliday 25-6, 25-13, 25-16
Bushland— Kills: Hallie Conklin 14, Kinley Rudder 13; Blocks: Conklin 4, Rudder 2, Taryn Schultz 2; Digs: Jaycee Adams 20, Conklin 10; Assists: Schulz 18, Logan Culpepper 13; Aces: Rudder 2, Culpepper 2, Adams 2.
Records: Holliday 23-5; Bushland 29-2.
Region I-4A championship
Decatur def. Canyon 22-25, 25-21, 25-11, 25-11
Canyon— Kills: Raylee Bain 14, Zoey Sparks 9; Blocks: Bain 2; Digs: Sadie Boyles 26; Assists: Ryne Roden 37.
Records: Canyon 19-6; Decatur 27-1.
District 3-5A
Amarillo High def. Caprock 25-14, 25-15, 25-12
AHS— Kills: Currie Marusak 13, Brielle Worley 10; Blocks: Elle Krusa 2, Worley 2; Digs: Maddie Kellogg 10, Jo Moffitt 6; Assists: Jaedyn Woolley 24, Moffitt 14; Aces: Moffitt 2, Kellogg 1.
Records: Caprock 3-9, 3-7; AHS 16-4, 10-0
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Tascosa def. Palo Duro 25-14, 25-10, 25-7
Tascosa Kills: Bebe Irwin 10, Liv Sims 8; Blocks: Irwin 6, Abrey Galt 3; Digs: Sims 8, Warren 8; Assists: Galt 20, Smart 8; Aces: Rogers 2, Galt 2.
Records: Tascosa 11-7, 7-3; Palo Duro 1-15, 0-10.
Randall def. Plainview 25-9, 25-10, 25-17
Randall— Kills: Kiar Parker 12, Delanie Patterson 11; Blocks: Julia Woolsey 3; Digs: Taylor Irving 15, Lauren De Santiago 14; Assists: Merritt Snell 18, Maretta Ramirez 14; Aces: Parker 4.
Records: Randall 12-4, 7-3; Plainview 8-11, 3-7.
District 3-5A final standings
Team District Overall
y-Amarillo High 10-0 16-4
x-Tascosa 7-3 11-7
x-Randall 7-3 12-4
Plainview 3-7 8-11
Caprock 3-7 3-9
Palo Duro 0-10 1-15
Play-in game
Plainview vs. Caprock, 6 p.m. Monday, Hereford