Lipan Returns to San Antonio After Semifinal Win Over Gruver

Court Gaylor dribbling the ball ~ Austin Hartsfield for iIdeline Sports

The Lipan Indians are headed back to San Antonio for the fourth straight year after grinding out a 63-53 win over the Gruver Greyhounds in the UIL State Semifinals.

It was a game filled with momentum swings and big moments from both sides.

Gruver struck first and carried the early energy, taking a 16-11 lead after the first quarter thanks to a spectacular three-quarter court buzzer beater from Mason Lankford that electrified the crowd.

Court Gaylor ~ Austin Hartsfield for Sideline Sports

Lipan responded in a big way in the second quarter. The Indians tightened up defensively and went on a dominant run, outscoring Gruver 18-6 in the period to take a 29-22 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Greyhounds faced a major challenge when Lankford, who finished with 26 points, was forced to the bench with foul trouble during a key stretch of the third quarter. Despite the setback, Gruver battled back when he returned, cutting the deficit to just two points and putting pressure on the Indians late.

That’s when Court Gaylor took over.

Gaylor, who finished with a game-high 36 points, delivered the decisive stretch of the night, scoring seven straight points to push the Lipan lead back out and seal the victory.

With the win, Lipan advances to the UIL State Championship Game, continuing an impressive run of four consecutive trips to the Alamodome as the Indians look to add another title to their storied program.