[dropcap]F[/dropcap]inding a way to persevere Friday places the Dripping Springs Tigers one step away from the state tournament.

Critical plays in the final minutes, along with a 17-point effort by senior forward Cullen Young, lifted Dripping Springs (25-13) past the Laredo Martin Tigers (26-10) in a gritty 33-29 half-court slugfest at the Northside Sports Gym in San Antonio.

Dripping Springs’ win, which is the team’s eighth in a row, advances them to Saturday’s Class 5A, Region ...