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Top five sports stories of the year: No. 1:
Boys basketball: Back-to-back: Marcus holds off Travis to repeat as state champs Forte named finals MVP
By Justin Thomas jthomas@starlocalnews.com
AUSTIN -- Marcus' boys basketball team etched its name in Texas High School basketball lore Saturday becoming the first Class 5A team to repeat as state champs in more than 10 years with a 56-52 victory over Fort Bend Travis at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.
"This is an amazing feeling," Forte said. "Not one, but two state championships. My coaches and teammates always have confidence in me and I just love shooting those clutch free throws."
Even with his big game, Forte was surprised by the accolades he received.
"I didn't expect the MVP," he said. "Marcus (Smart) does everything for us and the rest of my teammates put me in great positions where I just have to knock down shots. It wouldn't be possible without them and this was a total team effort."
Smart -- last season's championship game MVP -- had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists with Nick Banyard contributing 10 points and 13 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds in the second half.
"I'm feeling great," Smart said. "It definitely feels a little better this year saying we are back-to-back champions. Not everyone gets a chance to win one and does it, so to get two feels great."
Andrew Harrison paced Travis with 23 points, including 10-of-12 from the free throw line, while brother Aaron had 10 points.
The Marauders overcame a seven-point deficit in the second half, including trailing by four entering the fourth quarter.
But that's when Marcus began to attack the glass, scoring six second-chance points during an 8-2 spurt that saw the Marauders take a 42-40 advantage. Banyard had three of the offensive boards during the run with two put-backs, while Jared Hamilton contributed a tip-in off an A.J. Luckey miss.
"Those offensive rebounds were big," Banyard said. "[Hamilton] came up with the tip and they got us going.
"I don't know what it is about the second half and why I start playing better. I can't really explain it. I'm just glad I was there to help out my teammates."
With Marcus leading, 42-40, Forte found Smart for an and-1 to push the margin to 45-40 and while the Harrison brothers kept Travis within striking distance, they could never draw even or regain the lead. In the final minutes, the Tigers were unable to keep the ball out of Forte's hands and the Oklahoma State signee put the game away with a jumper for a 50-47 lead before converting six free throws for the final margin.
It was a fitting end to the sharpshooter's career after struggling in last year's final and in Marcus' previous two playoff contests.
"I was really motivated to get back here and prove myself," Forte said. "I wanted to prove myself and show that I'm a much better player than [in last year's final]. I think that really motivated me.
"It's funny ... during the summer I was shooting and coach (Danny) Henderson sent me a text and asked what I was doing. I said 'I just finished shooting' and he said keep working because you're going to be the MVP next year. I figured yeah, whatever, we have Marcus Smart. But here we are eight months later. To get back here and end my season like I wanted to, it's a great feeling."
Marcus opened the first half with the same defensive intensity that saw them take an early lead in its semifinal rout of Naaman, holding Travis to 1-of-6 from the field to open the game. Forte knocked down a 3-pointer on the opening possession for Marcus and later hit his second of the game followed by a steal and lay-in. Moments later, following a series of offensive rebounds, Smart delivered a put-back to give Marcus its largest lead of the half at 10-2.
However, where the Rangers were unable to get back in the game Friday, Travis chipped away before taking its first lead of the night in the final seconds of the half when Andrew knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night. He was also fouled from beyond the arc twice in the first two periods, making 6-of-8 free throws in the half for a team-high nine points at the break. The run was aided by an offensive drought that saw Marcus go more than five minutes without a field goal over the final portion of the first and early second quarters.
But the Marauders will to win and team-mentality propelled them to the victory.
"The Harrison's are definitely great players and this was a very physical game," Smart said. "More physical than we were expecting. But everyone on our team stepped it up. This team is more than just a couple of guys. It's one team, from the trainers to the coaches to the players and our fans."
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