Lady Tiger Basketball wins over Akins, falls to Travis
It is that time of the year when one set of sports are on the way out and a new set taking over. Basketball is one of those sports. The Lady Tigers have played two opponents and split the results as the Lady Tigers are expected to compete for the district title, made easier by the teams being weaker than the previous districts. Their job made more difficult when the team's leading scorer, Julia Graham, was lost for the season with a knee injury. In addition, last year's squad was seniorladen, leaving this team lacking in extensive varsity experience. That also means this team will continue to improve throughout the season as they gain that experience. The roller-coaster ride is just beginning.
The season opener was with Austin Akins. Scoring came alive in this game as the Lady Tigers moved out of reach in the second half to a 66-38 victory. They led 17-8 after one and then held off the Lady Eagles surge in the second to lead 28-21 at the half. Nineteen was the magic number in the last two quarters as defense held Akins to nine and eight.
Against Lake Travis, shooting woes began to show up in this close match as LT prevailed in the final stanza to take the game 56-44. Caitlyn Brack, Kline Stafford and Caroline Gamble provided the points to ease out to a 16-10 advantage after one. Gamble had seven and Brack four in the second as LT began to make their move to take the Lady Tigers to the lockerroom with a slim 27-25 lead. Shooting accuracy took a vacation in the third and fourth quarters, including free throw shooting. LT had taken a five-point lead in the third as the clock ticked down. Gamble would have a buzzer beater three to give the Lady Tigers hope with LT only leading 39-37. DS scoring was on total vacation for the first half of the fourth and LT kept pushing ahead and out of range. DS was only 11-22 from the line. Brack led DS scorers with 14. Gamble and Stafford followed with 13 each, while Kennedy Donovan scored her four from free throws.