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It is a hump the Tigers have not been able to get over this season. The close loss. They are 0-6 in district play and could easily be 4-2 with losses totaling 16 points in four. As they go back through the district they will continue to play hard and try to rectify those loses. Unfortunately they have most likely shot their chances in the foot for making the playoffs.
The last home game was with Austin Akins. After the hard fought battle, the Tigers fell 51-46.
It is hard to practice good basketball skills when lax officiating is taking place. Not only for this game but for almost all games that I watch. I know I am “old school,” but when I played and when I coached we had a book of rules as to how to play the game and they were enforced.
Don’t think those rules have changed that much but it is hard to recognize today’s games. They appear to be a combination of lunchtime games and rugby. I prefer to watch a game won on skills and not survival of the fittest.
The most common violations ignored are traveling, double-dribbling, three seconds in the lane, carrying the ball and contact between players. The dribbler is allowed to drive a shoulder into the defender or push and hold off the defender for space with the hands. Instead of moving the feet for position, defenders reach, grab and hold on much like defensive backs do on pass plays. Hard to describe the game as being basketball. If called, I am sure the players would play the game as it should be. It would be more fair. The game added a third official to combat this but mostly it just means paying one more official. Whistles last a long time in these games.
Back to the game. It was a highly spirited game with both teams fighting hard for a win. Both teams started the game a little cold in point production. Akins eased out to a 10-4 lead before the Tigers went on a 4-0 run to trail 8-12 after one. The Tigers picked up the pace in scoring during the second quarter and pulled ahead 25-23 at the half.
The game continued to stay close with no one taking charge. The Tigers let a 32-23 lead melt away in the third as it became a new game with the third ending 35-35. Akins jumped out to a four-point lead and the Tigers spent the entire quarter fighting to stay in the game. They got within two in the last minute of play. Another close but no cigar game.
In a game we have no stats for at this time, the Tigers fell short 56-53 to Austin High. At this point the Tigers are 12-14 on the season. Standings for the first half: Lake Travis 6-0, Westlake 5-1, Bowie 4-2, Akins 2-4, Austin 2-4, Del Valle 2-4, DS 0-6.
Scoring: Rushton Budge 18, Grant Gillum 8, Will Gardiner 6, Amyron Hurst 4, Judah Satterfield 4, Isaac Terry 2, Harrison Hight 2, Grant Reagan 2.
