Brittney Griner: The Most Dominating Force In High School Basketball

Every once in a while a player steps onto the court and the entire game changes. There is electricity in the air, and you can sense dominance is about to take place. That was the atmosphere in Austin as Houston Nimitz star Brittney Griner ran out to the floor.

The 6-foot-8 center had a state tournament for the ages. Spectators stood on their feet waiting for the chance to see history before the game even started. No female athlete has ever dunked at state. Griner changed that.

Pre-game was a show within itself. The minute Griner got the ball, it became a dunkfest. She was slamming it home with ease, and fans went wild. The slams came one right after another, each of different variety.

The state semi-final game against Pflugerville was pushed back thirty minutes because there were still people coming in through the gates. Everyone wanted to be there when history took place, with over 8,700 in attendance. About two and a half quarters later it happened.

Griner got the ball down on the blocks, made a move, and then went up for the two handed jam. The Erwin Center erupted, as did Griner, banging her fist against her chest as she ran down the court. She finished with 44 points in Nimitz's 74-47 win, but those two points were the only ones anyone will remember as she became the first female hoopster to dunk during the state playoffs.

In the finals against Mansfield Summit, everyone was expecting an encore. Griner took the floor during pre-game and the slam clinic began. But things didn't work out as planned during the game. Summit started off strong and the Nimitz offense never really got on track. Griner was unstoppable once she got the ball, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 blocks. However Nimitz had trouble getting it to her, turning it over 24 times. Summit took advantage of the miscues, walking away with the 5A state title after the 52-43 win.

It was Griner's last high school game, as she will now play for Kim Mulkey's Baylor Bears. But as she walked off the court, there is no doubt that Griner left an impressive legacy in the high school ranks.

Date of Article: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:30 am

Related Content:
- Aldine Nimitz  - Baylor Bears