By james art 
Aaliyah Chaavez, the nation # 1 of the nation, heads to the state semifinals for the first time in his grand career.
The five -star senior point guard also helped Lubbock Monterey reach the state final in the girls’ basketball for the first time since 1990.
Chavez scored 17 points, and Ambrosia Cole added match 21, as Monterey held a challenge from Argyle to win 58-52 on Friday afternoon from class 5A Division II Region I Final at Abilin Christian University. Monterey will make his sixth semi -final expression next week when he plays the winner at Frisco Memorial Frisco Memorial Frisco Frisco Frisco Frisco.
This game will be played on a neutral site, as there is no longer a traditional state tournament in the new UIL playophical format. Only the matches of the State Championship will be played at Alamodome in San Antonio, starting the next Thursday and lasting until March 1.
A six-time state champion Argil held Chavez to his third lowest point of the season, but lost in the regional final for the second consecutive year. Argyle was trying to reach the state semifinal for the first time since 2022 – which was his last year as a 4A school – and for the ninth time in 12 years.
Lehigh Signee Kennedy Hafer led Argile with 12 points, while Brooklyn Northeim and Wrigley Green scored 10 in number.
Monterey has been trying to win his first national title since he wanted his only championship in 1981, he defeated Duncanville at the state final in the same year.
Monterey (35-5), ranked # 5 in the state, led by 14 in the third quarter, but saw No. 8 Argil (32-6) near 53-52 with 1:10. Cole made two free throws with 29 seconds to extend Monterey’s lead to 55-52.
5-10 Chavez, McDonald’s All-Ameterican All-American and one of the best goal scorers in the country, scored 45 and 50 points in the previous two playoffs and was an average of 35.8 points for the season. It has 16 matches of 40 points or more this season, including three with 50 or more.
Argyle held Chavez up to 15 points in three quarters and entered the last quarter, behind 42-36. Monterey dominated early, leading 14-4 after a quarter, despite only four points from Chavez, but Argil closed to 25-20 at the half.
Stephen Garcia has contributed to this reportS
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