MESA, Arizona—Josh Webster led all scorers with 17 points as the top ranked South Plains College Texans captured the 2016 Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout championship for the second time in as many years with an 85-65 win over Snow Community College on Friday night.
Webster was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after totaling 39 points and dished out 24 assists in the Texans three games in Arizona. Roberto Gallinat was named to the all-tournament team for the second straight year and was accompanied by teammate Jordan Brangers.
"This was a total team effort and we were locked in from the first game that we played on Wednesday," Webster said. "This wasn't just me it was all of us. It's a true blessing to be named the most valuable player, and I really appreciate this and God is good. We have another one tomorrow and we want go go home undefeated."
Brangers finished the contest with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field. Gallinat and Justice Green totaled 10 points against the Badgers(12-2) while Grantham Gillard chipped in eight points and hauled in three boards.
It was a tale of two halves on Friday as the Badgers shot 42 percent from the 3-point line in the first 20 minutes. The Texans(13-0) one-upped their counterpart and went into the locker room at the half with a 13-point, 49-36 lead after shooting 63 percent from the field and 58 percent from behind the arc. Webster and Brangers combined for 21 first half points.
"Snow is a really good team and shot the ball very well," Brangers said. "Everyone played their part tonight and allowed us to go on and win by 20. This is one of the bigger junior college tournaments in the country, and for myself and Josh and Roberto to be named to the all-tournament team, this is a pretty big accomplishment."
A combination of first half adjustments combined with a consistent ability to produce on the offensive side of the ball ultimately decided a contest between two quality programs. South Plains smothered the Badgers on the defensive end in the final stint and forced them to go just 1-of-13 from the perimeter in the second half. The Texans shot 46 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes while Snow went just 10-of-37 from the field through the remainder of the game.
"We knew they could shoot," South Plains head coach Steve Green said. "We tried to warn our guys and tell them this is a catch and shoot team and these guys can shoot 3s. They ran some really good offense and got us into some mismatches. We made some adjustments about four or five minutes before the half and I think that caused them some problems the rest of the night."
With the trophy in hand and a perfect 13-0 record on tap, the Texans will look to close out their road trip with one more win in the desert win they square off with Chandler-Gilbert Community College in an exhibition game beginning at 2 p.m. MST on Saturday.