Estacado fans rally for state champions
BY ADAM D. YOUNG l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Estacado’s state champion basketball team returned home Saturday night to a heros welcome.
Police cars produced a strobbing blue and red path as they escorted the team from the south side of town through the Hub City to the high school auditorium, where a crowd of more than 200 students, fans and community leaders was waiting in jubilation in the cold night air.
Estacado fan Crystal Adame held her homemade “Welcome Home Champs” sign up as high as her arms could reach while yelling along with the rest of the throng of supporters.
Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin addresses the crowd and the class 3A state basketball champion Estacado boys basketball team after it arrived back from Austin. The Matadors beat Dallas Madison 69-63. (Photo provided by Brian Morris/LISD)
The Estacado Matadors pose with the championship trophy after arriving to Lubbock from Austin. The Mats beat Dallas Madison 69-63 in the state title game. (Photo provided by Brian Morris/LISD)
“It’s just support, that’s all,” she said. “They did a good job.”
Team members walked off the bus, greeted by hugs from friends and family and unceasing cheers from fans yelling “We are the Matadors!”
“It was beautiful,” said Estacado junior Shaniqua Owens. “It was nice that everyone came out.”
In the school’s auditorium, the team and fans gathered to hear such local leaders as Mayor Tom Martin, and councilmen Paul Bean, Todd Klein and Floyd Price.
“It’s through discipline, hard work and hard study that these young men have achieved what they have for this great city,” Price said as he lead a prayer for the team.
Martin invited the team to the March 25 city council meeting to share their story about the 69-63 win over Dallas Madison at the championship in Austin.
Read Monday’s Avalanche-Journal for more on this story.
To comment on this story:
adam.young@lubbockonline.com l 766-8725
charles.reinken@lubbockonline.com l 766-8706
More from this category
- Trinity Christian basketball coach leads mission to Panama
- Smyer girls lead class 1A honors after title
- Idalou, Littlefield, Shallowater take 2A honors
- Estacado boys, Levelland girls earn high honors in Class 3A
- Estacado’s Wagners went one win beyond what they did last year
- Estacado celebrates state title
- Estacado fans rally for state champions
- Mats bring Lubbock first UIL boys basketball state title in 59 years
Entries (RSS)
This is so amazing and wonderful!!!!! Congratulations from all of Lubbock!
Report this comment
Way to go Estacado!!!
Report this comment
Congrats all the way to the Matadors!!
Report this comment
Absolutely proud for those Matadors! Fantastic effort and well earned reward!
Report this comment
Great job on a great season!! Both games were great and they did what they needed to to win. They were outsized and just shut them down and played a great game in the championship!! Look forward to seeing them next year also!! They could make it back to back!!!!!!
Report this comment
I’m so proud to be a Matador! Once a Matador–always a Matador! I have always been proud of the girls and boys at Estacado High School. They go hard! Congratulations Mats! A job well done! I am a 1969 grad of EHS. My two daughters attended and graduated from Estacado. My three grandchildren CHOSE to attend Estacado also. They, too were dedicated athletes and loved Estacado. GO MATS! LET’S DO IT AGAIN!
Report this comment
Congrats!
So, when is the celebratory rally and/or parade? This is way bigger than the Little League team’s achievement a couple of years back….
Report this comment
I AGREE WITH SHERILEW THEY SHOULD HAVE A CITY WIDE PARADE
Report this comment