Tigers fall at area

Like all the other sports, basketball has been provided a strange year to contend with. Covid-19 took away the comfort zone of having routines to follow. Instead of a stable timetable, it was always an unknown as to whether one could practice or play games as scheduled.

The Tigers basketball team met all those challenges successfully as they weaved their way through the season. They held together well enough to place second in a tough 26-5A district with a season record of 15-6. This extended their playoff streak to five years.

Another challenge ended up being the unexpected ice storm that cancelled their final district game with Canyon and forced the playoff schedule to be changed.

It looked like the Tigers had jumped from the frying pan to the fire when they drew Liberty Hill in the bi-district game. The Panthers have provided a strong basketball program for decades and would be a formidable opponent. The Tigers stayed unfazed and came away with a 62-56 victory to move on.

Liberty Hill came to play, and the Tigers were in a bit of trouble during the first half. As the first quarter ended LH held a thin 15-13 edge. The Panthers kept the pressure up the entire second stanza and the half would end as LH stretched the lead to nine at 33-24. Undaunted, the Tigers came out strong and took back the deficit and gained one at 42-41 after three and went on for the win.

Two days later they would face another good team in San Antonio Jefferson. They won district with a 15-1 record. Playoffs are one and done situations. No do overs. Jefferson would win every quarter as they eliminated the Tigers from playoffs 62-44. It was 8-5 after one, 24-14 at half and 37-26 after three. The Tigers would make a run in the fourth to get within six points but Jefferson used free throws and one player's scoring to pull away. As has been the case during the season, Jayden Guevara and Aidan Bailey led the offensive attack with consistent help from the other members of the team.

Vs LH: Guevara 23, Jackson Friedman11, Bailey 10, Tony Parra 6, Felix Gonzales 5, Jude Donovan 5, Max Stewart 2.

Vs Jeff: Bailey 14, Guevara 8, Stewart 8, Friedman 6, Gonzales 3, Donovan 3, Parra 2.