MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas —
The Mount Pleasant-Chapel Hill girls basketball team secured a spot in the state tournament Saturday, February 23, defeating Edgewood 42-38.
"A lot of people dream for things like this," Senior Kaylan Tompkins said. "The fact that our dreams have become a reality is so overwhelming. I'm so blessed. We're so blessed."
The Lady Devils lost in the regional finals during last season's campaign.
This year, they are making their way to the UIL state title game for the first time in school history.
"It's hard to get over the hump," Coach Matt Garrett said. "Getting there is the hardest thing."
However, his team is thankful they reached their goal this year of getting to state.
"To break that step of regional finals and finally get there is really amazing," junior Mason Garrett said.
Each year, Mason takes a trip to the state tournament with her father and coach.
“The last time we went 2010 she was about ten years all she's ever wanted to do is play on that floor,” Coach Garrett said.
There is still another member of the Garrett family on the team. Courtney Garrett, Matt's wife of 22 years, serves as an assistant to her husband and helps to instill the value of teamwork into the team.
"I think if I had the choice this is where I'd want to be right beside him on the sideline,” Courtney Garrett said.
After years of hard work and sweat, the Garretts are making another trip to the state tournament. This time, they will be on the court, not the stands.
"You can only hope for things like that," Matt said. "You can never plan for those things."
While basketball is a mutual passion for the family, by no means did they reach their goal by themselves.
"I think just to have that whole team around, not just the three of us but around everybody,” Courtney said.
