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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The defending champion Gruver High School girls' |
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basketball team continued its exceptional performance during the |
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2022-2023 season, once again advancing all the way to the |
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University Interscholastic League 2A state title game; and |
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WHEREAS, After closing out the regular season with an 11-game |
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winning streak and claiming the district crown, the Lady Hounds |
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carried their momentum into the playoffs, besting Wheeler, |
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Floydada, Farwell, and New Home High Schools to reach the regional |
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final; there, with 14 seconds remaining, Gruver made a tip-in off a |
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missed three-point shot to defeat Panhandle High School 38-36, |
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punching the team's ticket to the state tournament for the fifth |
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time in school history; and |
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WHEREAS, On March 3, Gruver met Hearne High School in the 2A |
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semifinals at the San Antonio Alamodome; the Lady Hounds scored 18 |
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points off of turnovers and sank 15 free throws to triumph 45-32, |
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earning a berth in the state final for the third time in the past |
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four years; in the title contest, the Gruver players gave their all |
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in a closely contested showdown with Lipan High School; though the |
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Lady Hounds finished as the 2A runner-up, their season-long |
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achievements burnished the team's proud tradition of success that |
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includes state championship victories in both 2020 and 2022; and |
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WHEREAS, Gruver was paced at state by 2A All-Tournament |
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selections Allie Sparks and Kimber Whitehead; the Lady Hounds also |
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received valuable contributions throughout the year from the other |
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members of the roster: Giselle Miranda, Alexa Quintana, Makenlei |
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Vasquez, Brenna Butler, Brooklyn Vasquez, Jaylee Lane, Maizie Kelp, |
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Kinley Callaway, Erin Merkel, and Hannon Lankford; these determined |
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student-athletes were ably guided by head coach Trent Lankford and |
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assistant coaches Jill Butler, Valerie Merkel, Steven Livingston, |
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and Scotty Hintergardt; and |
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WHEREAS, With their exceptional skill and unwavering |
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commitment to excellence, the Gruver Lady Hounds have earned a |
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place among the top high school basketball teams in Texas, and they |
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are a source of tremendous pride to their classmates and their many |
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supporters in the local community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Gruver High School girls' |
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basketball team on advancing to the 2023 UIL 2A state championship |
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game and extend to the players, coaches, and staff sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Lady Hounds as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |