ABILENE – Texas A&M pledge Jamal Branch scored 19 points, and sixth-ranked Arlington Grace Prep squeezed past fifth-ranked Trinity Christian 56-53 Monday night in a TAPPS District 1-4A playoff for the league’s No. 1 seed in the postseason.

The two teams met halfway, at McMurry University, and the seeding game went much like the two regular-season meetings in which Trinity won 79-76 in Lubbock and Grace Prep won 59-53 in Arlington.

Parker Wentz poured in 24 points to lead Trinity Christian (32-6), followed by Kyle Wheeler with 13.

Isaiah Austin added nine points and Nick Banyard eight for Grace Prep (20-9).

TAPPS DISTRICT 1-4A PLAYOFF

FOR NO. 1 SEED

ARLINGTON GRACE PREP 56

TRINITY CHRISTIAN 53

GRACE PREP – Dean 0 0-0 0, Hornbeak 3 0-1 6, Simmons 0 0-0 0, Thomas 0 0-0 0, McCram 1 2-2 4, Roberts 0 0-0 0, Moffett 0 0-0 0, Branch 9 0-1 19, M.Thornton 0 0-0 0, Duke 1 0-0 3, Banyard 4 0-0 8, Mims 0 0-0 0, J.Thornton 2 2-3 7, Austin 2 5-9 9. Totals 22 9-16 56.

TRINITY CHRISTIAN – Wentz 4 15-17 24, Andrews 1 0-0 3, J.M. Stephenson 0 2-2 2, Gage 0 0-0 0, Miller 1 0-0 3, Wheeler 5 0-0 13, Pearson 0 0-0 0, Beck 0 0-0 0, J.Wheeler 1 0-0 2, Gregory 0 0-0 0, M.Stephenson 3 0-0 6. Totals 15 17-19 53.

Grace Prep 12 12 10 22 – 56

Trinity Christian 20 8 8 17 – 53

3-point goals: Grace Prep 3 (Branch, Duke, J.Thornton), Trinity Christian 6 (K.Wheeler 3, Wentz, Andrews, Miller). Total fouls: Grace Prep 15, Trinity Christian 14. Fouled out: McCram. Records: Grace Prep 20-9, Trinity Christian 32-6.

MONDAY’S AREA LINESCORE

GIRLS

CLASS 1A

Division II

District 5-IIA

COTTON CENTER 42, ROPES 34

Ropes 9 7 7 11 – 34

Cotton Center 6 10 17 9 – 42

Leading scorers: Ropes, Moore 11; Cotton Center, Gonzales 20, Hodges 10. Records: Ropes 4-6 in district; Cotton Center 17-11, 3-7.

BOYS

CLASS 1A

Division II

District 5-IIA

ROPES 81, COTTON CENTER 33

Ropes 29 25 10 17 – 81

Cotton Center 11 5 13 4 – 33

Leading scorers: Ropes, Weidner 14, Perry 14, Jackson 11; Cotton Center, Hawkins 12. Record: Ropes 16-10, 7-3.