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Mack Martin (24) drives to the basket for Westlake on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 during a Class 6A Division II state semifinal game against Cypress Falls at Mumford. (Provided by Jake Strelitz)
MUMFORD — Mack Martin couldn’t miss.
When Westlake walked out of halftime with a 15-point lead Tuesday, Martin was determined there’d be no letdown to start the third quarter.
Hitting back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers in the opening minute and adding a fourth a short time later, Martin scored Westlake’s first 13 points of the second half as the Chaps turned their Class 6A Division II semifinal against Cypress Falls into a rout on the way to a 59-27 win.
“I’m ready for these moments,” said Martin, who finished with six 3-pointers and a game-high 23 points and sported a bloody nose postgame from a play late in the fourth quarter. “I’ve put hours and hours of work in, so it’s just paying off.”
It was part of a wildly impressive performance by Westlake, which did almost everything right.
The Chaps (32-6) won the rebounding battle and shot well, but it was their defense that stood out. Utilizing a 1-2-2 full-court press — that was more to slow the Eagles going down the floor than force turnovers — and an aggressive man-to-man in the halfcourt, Westlake flustered Cypress Falls from start to finish.
“This was our best game of the season by far,” said Westlake guard Bo Ogden, who will play at Texas next year. “We guarded so well and had so much energy. … We were a tough team to beat tonight.”
Westlake has only given up more than 50 points once in the playoffs. Chaps coach Robert Lucero credits his assistant coaches for their scouting reports, but notes the players have completely bought in to preparing defensively.
“You have 18 guys that learn the entire scout in film and on the floor,” said Lucero, who also led Westlake to a state finals appearance in 2021. “… You just try and get as much information on (the opponent) and go over it live so that you’re ready.”
Westlake only trailed once in the game: at 2-0.
Ogden hit a 3-pointer seconds later, and the Chaps eventually built a double-digit lead in the second quarter, spurred by two old-fashioned three-point plays from Hayes Goldman.
Goldman, a sophomore who could follow in the steps of former Chaps Eain Mowatt and Gavin Paul as a shorter guard who turns into one of the area’s better players, has become key off the bench for Westlake in the playoffs.
“I’m just trying to help the team,” said Goldman, who finished with 10 points. “It means everything (to contribute), so I’m gonna put it all out there and give it all I can.”
As good as Westlake was in the first half, it was even better in the third quarter.
Martin, Goldman, Ogden and Blake Cannatti all mentioned being motivated by their regional semifinal game against Schertz Clemens, when they gave up a 15-0 run to start the second half after leading by 21.
“We definitely talked about that at halftime, knowing … how we let them back in the game,” said Cannatti, who along with fellow guard Powell Frickenschmidt did several things defensively that don't show up on the stat sheet. “We weren’t going to let that happen again.”
After Martin’s shooting streak, Ogden hit another 3-pointer to give Westlake a 45-17 lead.
Cypress Falls (30-6) seemed stunned, and the Chaps defense never allowed it to make a comeback.
“(Martin) really got going and the guys did a good job of finding him,” Lucero said. “And I think that shows that our guys are playing to win. They don’t care about who’s scoring.”
For Lucero, who is in his 12th season leading Westlake and has been with the program 17 total, reaching the state title game is something to be appreciative of not only for this season, but also the past.
“Inside, you’re really thankful to all the kids that have come before that were part of this,” he said. “You’re grateful to these kids that work hard every day, and you’re grateful that you’re in a community that values athletics. … As a coach, you’re just grateful to be a part of it.”
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