By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

BRYAN – The clock finally struck midnight on the LBJ’s Cinderella run in the UIL boys basketball playoffs.

Led by Robert Jones’ game-high 32 points, Houston Washington pulled away Tuesday in the fourth quarter to defeat the Jaguars 76-56 in a Class 4A Division I state semifinal at Bryan High School.

The Golden Eagles (29-4) led from the start and never relinquished the lead. However, LBJ (24-12) showed that grit that got them to their fifth UIL state semifinals appearance and first since 2009.

Led by sophomore Marquis Murry II’s 16 points, the Jaguars (24-12) stayed within striking distance through three and a half quarters. LBJ had three players finish in double digits, including Antoine Baker and Jashawn Waters, who each scored 10 points.

Washington led 17-10 after the first quarter and extended its lead to eight points at halftime.

The Jaguars pulled to as close as five points in the second half, but was unable to get any sort of momentum going to pull of a much-needed run to overcome the No. 6 Golden Eagles.

“To get this close and lose it, that’s going to be tough to overcome for a while,” said LBJ head coach Freddie Roland.

Roland, who has been LBJ’s coach for more than three-decades, said he wasn’t sure if Tuesday’s game would be his last. “I don’t know, I may have one more left in me.”

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