Girls’ basketball fell to Austin Westlake on Tuesday, 63-34, the Chaparrals’ 14th straight win in the first round of playoffs.

.The winners move on area competition to play San Antonio Clark (28-4,17-1), who beat South San Antonio Tuesday night, 61-46.

The Rangers opened the game playing winning basketball, battling to a 12-10 lead before subbing out senior wing Brianna Grell. Grell starred in the first frame, scoring six points and making innumerable hustle plays. But then head coach Matthew Sutherland tried to give her a breather, a move that resulted in an 8-0 run for Westlake and only about 50 seconds of rest for Grell.

The second quarter went even better, especially defensively. The Rangers set up a half-court trap and managed to shut out the Chaparrals for the entire eight-minute frame. But the offense struggled, only producing eight points, led by Trinity Garrett’s three. Still, momentum seemed to be squarely in the Rangers’ court.

At least, until the third quarter started. Westlake set up a three-quarters press that frustrated the designated home team until the final buzzer sounded. And pretty soon, that 20-18 halftime lead turned into an insurmountable 43-26. The team’s lack of off-ball movement exacerbated their lack of elite passing, turning a simple trapping press into a nail in the coffin of the Rangers’ season. 

The Chaparrals won the fourth quarter, 20-8, not that it mattered at that point. Rangers already had pain painted on their faces by the end of the third. Anika McGarity was the team’s only source of offense by the end of the game, scoring all eight of her points in the final frame.

Westlake will move on to the second round of the playoffs to play Clark, taking one step closer to their first state title since 1995-’96.

The Rangers, on the other hand, will search for answers after losing three of their final four games by double-digit points. They bid farewell to three senior starters, as well: McGarity (Charleston College), Tanyse Moehrig (Texas Lutheran) and Grell.