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E-mail This StoryRog’er Guignard, a former standout basketball player at Horn, is part of one of the better stories during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Guignard is a sophomore guard for the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks, who are headed to the tournament for the first time in the program’s 49-year history. The Mavericks defeated Northwestern State, 82-79, last Sunday in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game in Katy to earn the spot.
UTA (21-11) is the 16th seed in the South Bracket and draws a huge challenge in the opening round when it faces top-seeded Memphis (33-1) on Friday at approximately 8:55 p.m. in Little Rock, Ark.
Guignard, who was the SLC Freshman of the Year last season, was second on the team in scoring this season, averaging 13 points per game, while also leading the team in steals with 52. He is one of the most accurate 3-point shooters in the conference, hitting 97-of-250 on the year.
In the SLC title game, Guignard scored 17 points and added five rebounds and was named to the all-tournament team.
The SMU girls are also headed to the NCAA Tournament, and a big reason why is a pair of former MISD standouts. Sophomores Delisha Wills, a graduate of Mesquite, and Jillian Samuels, a graduate of Horn, have each played integral roles in leading the Mustangs to the tournament.
SMU (24-8) earned its berth and a No. 12 seed with a 73-57 victory over UTEP in the Conference USA Tournament finals and will play fifth-seeded Notre Dame on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in West Lafayette, Ind.
Wills is second on the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game, while also averaging 5.2 rebounds per contest. Samuels leads the team in minutes played, scores 9.6 points per game, has 67 assists and is one of the best free throw shooters in the conference, having hit 89.6 percent (43-of-48).
