The Garland Owls basketball team (26-1) advanced two spots in the playoffs this week. Tuesday, March 1, at McLennan Community College in Waco, they defeated Killeen Ellison High School to earn the regional quarterfinal title.
Friday, March 4, at Dallas’ Ellis Davis Field House, the Owls won the regional semifinal title with a win over Cypress Falls High Schools.
The Garland HS – Killeen Ellison High School game ended at 77-41 as four-star recruit and Kansas University signee Zuby Ejiofor had a 33-point game with 13 rebounds. Aaron King scored 11 points for the Owls.
At the end of the first quarter, Ellison trailed the Owls 14-3 and they were outscored by the Owls in every quarter.
Scoring by quarter
Garland HS: 14 – 17 – 22 – 24 – 77
Ellison HS: 3 – 9 – 11 – 18 – 41
Friday, March 4, the Owls (26-1) got a heart stopping 50-48 victory over Cypress Falls High School at the Ellis Davis Field House in Dallas. This win earned GHS the regional semifinal title.
Ejiofor, 6’ 8” Kansas University signee led the Owls to the win with 23 points. The Owls trailed by seven points at the four-minute mark, but Ejiofor helped his team overcome the deficit by scoring 13 in the last quarter. Two of those last quarter shots were 3-pointers.
Aaron King scored 16 points and was key in getting the Owls the lead with less than a minute left in the game.
Scoring by quarter
Garland HS: 14 – 12 – 9 – 15 – 50
Cypress Falls HS: 11 – 12 – 9 – 16 – 48
Saturday, March 5, the Owls play Duncanville High School in the regional final round. They’ll play at the Ellis Davis Field House at 2 p.m. A win in this game earns GHS a chance to compete in their first state basketball tournament.