By Jay Plotikin
Courtesy of Austin 6A Sports Report

BUDA – Westlake defeated Converse Judson 49-46 in the UIL Class 6A Division II Region IV final Saturday at Hays High School, earning a trip to the state semifinals behind a 29-point performance from Bo Ogden.

The Chaparrals (31-6) will play Cypress Falls (30-5), which won Region III with a 64-49 win over Katy Jordan. Game time and location is still to be announced.

Ogden did everything for Westlake in a raucous environment at Hays High School. He scored 29 points, including 19 of Westlake’s 25 in the second half. In a back-and-forth final 4 minutes, Ogden had an answer every time Judson took the lead despite picking up his fourth foul with more than two minutes left in the game. He tried to avoid a fifth foul at all costs.

“It was tough not to hit guys or bump them,” Ogden said. “I just tried to slow down and avoid contact rather than trying to go through it like normal.”

Fortunately for Westlake, he succeeded.

After Gerald O’Neal’s free throws gave Judson a 43-42 lead with 3:54 left, Ogden answered with a three-pointer at the 3:01 mark to put the Chaps back in front. When Jaylen Crittendon hit a three-pointer for Judson with 2:39 left, Ogden hit an 18-footer to put Westlake back in front 47-46 at the 1:52 mark.

He outmuscled Franklin Ihama for a rebound with 1:30 left. With Judson forced to foul, he made a pair of free throws with 15.1 seconds left to give Westlake a 49-46 lead.

Leading up to the game, Ogden said the Chaps stressed the need to battle for rebounds and prevent Judson from getting extra chances. By and large, they did, thanks mostly to Ogden and Alex Allen, who had to battle on the boards with teammate Mack Martin fighting foul trouble.

“We figured it out,” Ogden said. “We rebounded pretty well defensively, didn’t let them get too many offensive rebounds. I think we did that part of the game well.”

Westlake coach Robert Lucero agreed.

“I thought Bo had some big rebounds,” Lucero said. “Alex Allen was always in there fighting for rebounds and boxing out. He does all of the little things that lead to winning.”

Judson had two chances to tie late, but O’Neal missed a three-pointer with 10 seconds left, and after Westlake missed a pair of free throws with 3.5 seconds left, Crittendon’s desperation three-pointer came up well short. Judson didn’t score in the final 2:30.

“Our kids do such a good job watching film and paying attention to the scouting report,” Lucero said about his team’s defense. “When we get into the game, we’re able to clog the gaps and make them take tough shots, and finish the play with the rebound.”

Westlake opened up a 12-4 lead early in the game before Judson closed the gap. Westlake led 20-19 with 1:00 left in the first half before Allen scored off a long pass from Ogden and Ogden drove the length of the court to score in the closing seconds.

Leading 24-19 at the break, Westlake struggled offensively and fouled defensively. Judson opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run that included seven free throws. Despite committing nine fouls in the quarter (Judson fouled 8 times), Westlake closed with a 6-0 run (four points from Ogden and two from Powell Frickenschmidt) to lead 38-32.

Westlake still led 42-36 when Judson mounted its run. Ogden twice fouled O’Neal while he shot three-pointers. O’Neal made 5 of the 6 free throws, and Ihama scored as well as the Rockets took a 43-42 lead, setting the stage for the finish.

After Ogden, Westlake got 6 points from Allen and 5 each from Martin and Hayes Broadhead. O’Neal scored 18 for Judson while Ihama added 12.