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San Antonio, TX-

       The girls' basketball playoffs are officially underway, marking the beginning of the road to the UIL Texas State Championship.

The No. 1-ranked (TABC) Judson Rockets inched one step closer to that ultimate goal with a dominant, 70-35, Bi-District victory over the Medina Valley Panthers on Monday night, securing a spot in the area round.

While free throws are often said to determine the outcome of games, they weren’t the deciding factor in this match-up, but certainly had an impact. Judson’s 68 percent free throw percentage did play a role in helping the Rockets rack up 70 points against the Panthers.

The true difference-maker? Fundamentals.

Heading into the game, the Rockets were aiming for their 28th consecutive win. They not only achieved this goal but did so by outpacing Medina Valley in nearly every aspect of the game.

From the opening tip, DeLaney Arredondo set the tone with a fast-break score. Although the first quarter remained low-scoring, the Rockets quickly demonstrated their versatility and fundamental prowess.

Judson surged to a 12-0 lead, with Arredondo leading the charge on offense, while Medina Valley struggled with foul trouble early on.

The Red & White capitalized on free buckets as three Panthers faced foul trouble, including Trinity Dixon with three by halftime. However, she remained disciplined on defense and continued to serve as a spark offensively for MV, finishing the game with eight points.

The Panthers managed to shift momentum heading into the second quarter, with Dixon hitting a three-pointer as time expired. However, Judson relentlessly pushed the pace, converting on turnovers for fast breaks to draw fouls to get to the line. 

From that point forward, the Rockets seemed to be on repeat: drive, draw a foul and convert at the line - while occasionally hitting a three-pointer. As for King, she found a home driving and pulling up at the elbow.

Medina Valley continued to use their speed to attack the basket but needed some finesse off the glass and more protected possessions to be in contention as the game progressed.

Judson’s offensive attack was powered by Arrendondo and University of Houston commit Kayla King, whose jumpers and free-throw consistency helped her finish with an impressive 27 points. 

The Rockets have not returned to the State Tournament since 2021, but based on Monday’s dominant performance, there is little doubt that Judson is poised for a strong playoff run. 

In the 6A Region IV Area round, Judson will face the winner of the match-up between Edinburg and Veterans Memorial (Brownsville).

On the season, Medina Valley ends their campaign with an overall 19-16 mark.