Kiyleyah Parr stars as Waco La Vega holds off Canyon girls basketball in 4A state championship
SAN ANTONIO — Waco La Vega held off a late Canyon charge to repeat as state champion.
Kiyleyah Parr made the big plays for the Pirates down the stretch in a 45-36 win in the girls basketball Class 4A state championship at the Alamodome.
La Vega also rode a smothering defensive effort that allowed 32.3% shooting and forced 15 turnovers.
Canyon's Jaylee Moss commands La Vega attention
Coming off a 26-point performance in the semifinal win, Canyon's Jaylee Moss drew laser-focused attention from the Pirates. Six-foot senior Sydney McKinney began with the assignment and held Moss without a field-goal attempt in the first quarter.
Moss, who made 7 of 7 tries from beyond the arc Friday, didn't score until the 5:46 mark of the second quarter.
When McKinney sat, 5-10 junior Solange Loadholt took her place. Each La Vega defender face-guarded Moss for an emphasis on denying her the ball.
Moss was 2 of 4 in the first half and tallied six points. She finished with a team-high 12.
La Vega's Kiyleyah Parr dazzles
Point guard Parr was commanding the ship for the Pirates offense.
The 5-5 senior helped her team control the pace and methodically attack. She scored nine points in the opening half, including a dazzling reverse layup.
Parr also had four assists in the first 16 minutes. One went to Alaysia Gude, who had a game-high 10 points at the break to stake La Vega a 26-17 lead.
Parr hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter to double the Pirates' advantage after Canyon closed within 30-27. She scored 12 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to put the game away. She shot 8 of 14 from the field, including 2 of 3 from deep. Parr also had four rebounds and eight steals.
Big third by Canyon's Kambrie Graser not enough
La Vega led by seven midway through the third quarter, before a Canyon push.
Kambrie Graser, who finished with 10 points, scored seven in the third period, including a 3-pointer in the final minute to pull the Eagles within 33-30.
Canyon exited the quarter with momentum and cut the deficit to one point early in the fourth quarter. But the Pirates took the air out of the ball to grind down the Eagles.
Shortening the game, La Vega held Canyon to six points in the quarter to hold on for the win.
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Waco La Vega 45, Canyon 36
Canyon 6 11 13 6 — 36
La Vega 14 12 7 12 — 45
Canyon (30-7): Sydnee Winfrey 10, Kambrie Graser 10, Jaylee Moss 12, Theresa Mode 2, Addison Cunningham 2.
Waco La Vega (32-11): Sydney McKinney 2, Angela Carroll 3, Mar'Cyah Willis 4, Kiyleyah Parr 21, Alaysia Gude 12, CeMaria Kelly 3.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Waco La Vega downs Canyon to repeat in girls basketball 4A state championship
