West Plains falls to defending champ Kimball in state semifinals

The magical run for the West Plains Wolves finally came to an end Tuesday night, but not before the young program made history.

West Plains advanced further than any boys basketball team in school history, reaching the Class 4A Division I state semifinals. Standing in their way, however, was a team that already knew what it took to finish the job. Defending state champion Dallas Kimball proved exactly why it entered the postseason with that title, defeating the Wolves 67-53 at Wichita Falls Legacy to move on to the state championship game in San Antonio.

For West Plains, the loss closed the book on a remarkable season that saw the program continue its rapid rise in only its fourth year of varsity basketball.

The Wolves showed early they weren’t intimidated by the moment. The game started tight, with both teams trading baskets in the opening minutes. But Kimball grabbed control for good when Kayden Gray knocked down three free throws after drawing contact on a three-point attempt, putting the Knights ahead 5-4.

Gray quickly established himself as the biggest problem for West Plains. The dynamic guard poured in nine points in the first quarter and continued to make plays throughout the night, finishing with a game-high 26 points.

The turning point came early in the second quarter. Kimball ripped off a 10-0 run that created breathing room and shifted the momentum. West Plains fought back with six straight points to trim the deficit to 23-16, giving the Wolves a spark and keeping hope alive.

But the defending champions answered in a big way.

Kimball closed the half on an 8-0 surge, stretching the lead to 31-16 at the break and forcing West Plains into a tough uphill climb the rest of the night.

The Knights did much of their damage in the gritty parts of the game. Second-chance opportunities, quick transitions off turnovers and relentless work on the boards allowed Kimball to control the tempo and limit the Wolves’ ability to string together runs.

Still, West Plains refused to go away.

Kimball pushed the lead to as many as 21 points in the third quarter, and the game briefly looked like it might slip completely out of reach. Instead, the Wolves dug in and showed the fight that carried them all season.

A three-pointer from Reid Macon just before the third-quarter buzzer cut the lead to 46-34 and injected new life into the West Plains sideline. It wasn’t enough to fully swing the momentum, but it showed once again that the Wolves weren’t going to fade quietly on the state semifinal stage.

West Plains placed four players in double figures, highlighting the balanced scoring that defined the team all year. Sophomore Beckett Jones led the way with 12 points, while Macon and Ayden Larra each added 11. Ethan Gilliam chipped in 10 more.

The Wolves’ comeback hopes took another hit early in the fourth quarter when Macon fouled out while West Plains was still trying to close the gap.

Kimball also made sure there would be no late drama at the free throw line. The Knights were nearly automatic, knocking down 25 of 27 attempts to keep the Wolves at arm’s length.

Even with the loss, the season will be remembered as a breakthrough for West Plains. The Wolves finished 31-5, went undefeated in District 4-4A and reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history.

For a program still in its infancy, the foundation appears stronger than ever. And after a run like this one, the Wolves have shown that their place among the state’s contenders may just be getting started.