Two first-timers will battle for the Class 4A first-place trophy Saturday at Carver Arena.
Richards rolled to a 58-41 victory over Lockport in a Class 4A semifinal Friday to advance to its first state title game. The Bulldogs will face Zion-Benton, another newcomer to the championship game.
“This feels just great,” Richards guard Tommie Thomas said. “I cannot believe we’re in the state championship game.
“It’s because of our point guard, Eliud Gonzalez. He will just not let us lose, and we feed off his energy.”
Lockport didn’t have an answer for Richards’ inside duo of 6-foot-8-inch Shaun Pratl and 6-5 Carl Richard, who took the Porters out of the game by the end of the first half.
Pratl scored a game-high 18 points and Richard finished with 12 points and five rebounds before the benches cleared with 2:25 left in the game. Each scored nine points in the first half.
Gonzalez, who had five assists, and Thomas added to the firepower. Thomas, the quarterback on Richards’ football team, added 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“I’m just playing my heart out right now because this is it,” Thomas said. “I wanted to win a state championship in football, and that didn’t work. Now I’ve got another shot.”
Richards (29-4) led by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter.
Lockport finished 24-7.
