The McKinney Christian Academy Mustangs continued their historic playoff run with a 61-46 victory over Prince of Peace in the TAPPS 4A Regional Finals. With the win, the Mustangs punched their ticket to the state tournament.
Coming into the match up, the Mustangs knew they were in for a battle. Prince of Peace had kept them from winning the district title last season, adding extra motivation for this showdown.
The game began with both teams feeling the pressure, each committing early turnovers. However, the Mustangs quickly settled in behind their signature defensive intensity. Senior guard Drew Hamilton set the tone offensively, scoring 12 of the team's 26 first-quarter points, helping them take an early 26-12 lead.
Prince of Peace fought back in the second quarter, showing their resilience and chipping away at the deficit. But the Mustangs held firm, executing key defensive plays, taking charges and protecting the paint. Despite the push from their opponents, McKinney Christian maintained control, heading into halftime with a 38-26 advantage.
During the halftime break, the Mustangs focused on key adjustments—keeping the ball out of the post, rotating quickly to shooters and maintaining their disciplined offensive pace. Coach Martinez reminded the team to take high-quality shots and let the ball move with energy, a staple of their success all season.
Their response was immediate. The Mustangs clamped down defensively, limiting Prince of Peace's leading scorer to just five second-half points after he had poured in 13 in the first half. Their defense held Prince of Peace to only nine points in the third quarter and 11 in the fourth, effectively shutting down any comeback attempt.
Offensively, Hamilton continued to shine, finishing with 22 points, including two clutch three-pointers that all but sealed the victory. Junior guard Manny Weaver contributed 12 points, while senior guard Sean Agyapong added nine points and was a force on the boards. Senior guard John Clark chipped in with eight points.
With this win, the Mustangs now advance to the Final Four of the TAPPS 4A State Tournament at University High School in Waco on Friday at noon.