Tiger Basketball bumped from the playoffs
The basketball playoffs for the Tigers was nothing but nailbiters as they would split a pair of two-point games. A last second layup garnered the Tigers a 59-57 Bi-district victory over Boerne Champion, then a miracle shot put a dagger in the Tigers hearts as they were removed from the playoffs in the 45-43 loss to SA Sam Houston at Area. Despite the abrupt exit, the Tigers finished with a very commendable 23-9 season.
In the past two years of district play, the Tigers had not defeated a Boerne Champion team and this game was a tough one to overcome as well. After one quarter, it was a 13-13 tie. Another back and forth quarter found DS holding a slim 30-29 lead at the break. No one could gain an advantage in the third as the Tigers clung to their one-point lead at 44-43. With the final seconds ticking off and the score tied at 57, DS had the ball. The ballhandler looked to have lost the ball out of bounds but regained control and got the ball under the basket to Kyle Rioux and he put the ball in to get the win.
Then it was on to the Area contest with SA Sam Houston. This would prove to be a nerve-wracker as well. After one, the Tigers found themselves trailing 18-13. The Tigers dug in to begin their journey back. They gained one as the break showed a 25-21 deficit. Undaunted, the end of three witnessed a slim 32-31 edge for the Tigers. Then it would come down to that final quarter. The Tigers rallied under four minutes to go ahead by six, only to see SH go on a 5-0 run to get it back to one. This set up the final drama. With seconds left, the Tigers missed two free throws and ended up giving SH the ball under their basket with 2.2 seconds remaining. Any team would feel good about the odds of a win with that situation. Unfortunately, not to be. Sam Houston threw the ball to half court and the player fielded it and fired the ball toward the basket. It banked off the backboard and in for the three-pointer for the win. Now it is on to next year.
Vs BC: Trace Young 17, Enzo Arnold 16, Xavier Phillips 13, Rioux 5, Nick Statz 4, Alema Louis 3, Tyler Smith 1.
Vs SH: Arnold 11, Statz 11, Phillips 10, Young 6, Connor Parks 5.