Roundball reign repeats

With 13 NFL championships, including four Superbowl trophies, Green Bay, Wisc. has been affectionately dubbed “Titletown, USA.”

The Town of Argyle is rapidly developing a reputation as a “Titletown” of its own at the high school level. Argyle High School and Liberty Christian have both won back-to-back state championships in the sport of girls basketball for the last two seasons.

Argyle forward Vivian Gray averaged more than 20-points a game for the Lady Eagles in the post-season and was selected to the state all-tournament team.

Gray, a junior, said it is difficult to express just how incredible being a part of back-to-back state championships actually is to her.

“It was extremely special because it was the first [of any] sports team from Argyle to go back-to-back,” Gray said. “It never gets old to win a state championship, and I’m proud of the team and what we were able to accomplish.”

Gray, who will begin visiting colleges in the fall, said she believes what makes the Argyle girls basketball team so special is its work ethic.

“We work hard all year,” Gray said. “We don’t take a day off and we try as hard as we can in practice. I also think that we have good team chemistry, because we have played together and been in school together for so long.”

The 6′ 1” power forward was a first-team All-State selection this season and said she would like to play professionally one day, if the opportunity presents itself.

Gray is considering Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor, among other schools, and is the No. 14 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the 2017 class, according to ESPN.

Liberty Christian’s Sydney Goodson, who has been playing basketball since she was in the third grade, said it still has not set in that she is part of a back-to-back state championship team. But, the senior guard said it is an amazing feeling nonetheless.

“It’s a surreal experience, especially after all the adversity we had to walk through this season,” Goodson said. “It made the victory that much sweeter,”

The Lady Warriors have had injury issues this season; but, as the saying goes, winning cures everything.

Goodson comes from a basketball family, with her two younger siblings also competing in the sport. She said the best part about her experience of winning a state championship is the relationships she has formed.

“I will never forget winning back-to-back state championships, but more importantly is the bond I have made with all my teammates,” Goodson said. “That will last much longer than any trophy ever could.”

Liberty Christian has won five championships in the last 10-seasons in girl’s basketball, and Goodson was a first-team All-State selection at point guard this season.

The Liberty teen received a full basketball scholarship to Arizona State University, where she was also accepted into the school’s Barrett, the Honors College.