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If Lanier coach Laura Negrete-Fernandez has learned anything in her 17 seasons as Voks coach, she doesn’t take district championships for granted.

She didn’t seven years ago when the Voks won their first in program history. And she didn’t Tuesday after a 59-39 victory against Sam Houston at Alamo Convocation Center secured at least a share of the District 28-5A crown, which was the Voks’ second ever.

“It was a long road to get to that first district championship and now it’s been a long road to get to this one,” Negrete-Fernandez said. “It’s been too long. This is crazy.”

The Voks (22-6 overall, 13-1 district) can clinch the title outright if they defeat Edison on Friday.

“It hasn’t happened in a while,” Lanier senior guard Brandi Mojica said. “It feels really good.”

Second place Edison (11-3 in district) is two games behind with two games remaining.

“It was our goal all season (to win a district championship),” senior guard Esmi Garza said. “We worked hard all season to get here.”

The Voks only trailed once after Sam Houston made the opening basket.

Lanier pressured the ball well and created a lot of their offense by forcing turnovers. The Voks needed those transition opportunities because Sam Houston (16-13, 9-5) held a commanding 66-35 advantage on the boards. Kaliyah Tempobet Brown of Sam Houston had 25 rebounds.

“The key was we couldn’t run with these girls,” Negrete-Fernandez said. “We knew we had to do all the little things – blocking out, attacking the basket and when we have a layup or jump shot, it had to go in.”

The Voks did that in spurts. Mojica scored all 13 of her points in the first half. She made a 3-pointer and a field goal in the final minute of the first quarter that put the Voks ahead, 19-11.

After Lanier led 30-19 at half, the Hurricane’s crept to within 30-23 in the first minute of the third quarter. The Voks answered with a 14-2 run that secured the game.

That wasn’t the case in their previous meeting when the Voks squeezed out a 54-53 victory on Dec. 30.

“It felt good not to be pressured because we had a little bit of a cushion,” said Garza, who led all scorers with 16 points.

Sam Houston was led by Khadija Derry’s 14 points.

dhinojosa@express-news.net

Twitter: @hinojosa_david

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