Tigers Varsity Basketball plays close games

If the Tigers had any qualms about playing close games then they should have gotten them out of their system in their first two games that were decided by two points. First, they held onto a 62-60 win over Rouse and then hit a shot at the buzzer to take down Lehman 58-56. It looked like there might be a third with Hays before the Rebels pulled away in the fourth for a 59-48 victory.

Dripping Springs opened their season by playing a showcase game with Rouse at the Concordia gym. It was a game that featured a shot clock and was high intensity throughout. At the end of any quarter, the difference was never more than two points per quarter. Points were plentiful by both teams as the first quarter ended with the Tigers holding an 18-16 lead. DS did not slow down and by the half had edged ahead by another point at 34-31. After three it was 50-46. As the clock wound down the ball was in Rouse's hands. They tried to draw a foul to possibly tie the game. It was not to be as the Tigers escaped narrowly.

With Lehman there was more ebb and flow in the first quarter as the Tigers raced out to a 17-6 advantage with 1.55 remaining. The game was allowed to be more physical than it should. Lehman surged back to narrow the gap to 18-13. Lehman drew even at 23 at the 5.35 mark. This spurred the Tigers to a 12-2 run but in the last minute of play Lehman hit three threes to make it 35-34 at the half.

Scoring slowed in the third for the Tigers while Lehman hit enough to take a 42-40 edge after three. An 8-0 run by DS put them back into the lead. The Tigers held off the Lobos until a three put Lehman up 54-52. With 30 seconds left Trace Young dropped in a three to regain the lead at 56-54. A pair of free throws with 12.6 seconds tied the game and looked to be an OT situation. Instead, Young put up a shot from the side that sailed over the rim but Xavier Phillips had perfect timing from the other side, grabbed the rebound in the air and returned the ball into the net as the buzzer went off.

Officiating much tighter with Hays. Game less physical but the main problem for the Tigers was their inability to control the boards as Hays was not allowing many extra shots and gaining some for themselves. The Tigers would find themselves trailing after one 15-14. It was equally as close in the second with Hays holding onto a 28-26 margin at the break. Still close after three with Hays holding onto a slim 38-37 advantage. However, Hays got on a hot streak and pulled away with the Tigers unable to hang in.

Vs Rouse: Jayden Guevara 16, Aidan Bailey 13, Young 10, Tony Parra 6, Phillips 5, Max Stewart 5, Jackson Friedman 4, Eli Tod 3.

Vs Lehman: Phillips 18, Young 15, Friedman 7, Guevara 6, Tod 4, Parra 3, Charles Hunt 3, Felix Gonzales 2.

Vs Hays: Guevara 14, Young 9, Phillips 8, Parra 6, Bailey 5, Friedman 4, Tod 2.