No.8 Tigers claim 22-1A championship
Joaquin's Smooch Wilson during Friday night's District 22-1A
contest in Ram Gymnasium. The No.8-ranked Tigers claimed the
outright league championship with an 88-51 win. (Photo by
John Krueger)
JOAQUIN -- The No.8-ranked Tenaha Tigers clinched the outright District 22-1A championship Friday night and a first-round bye in the playoffs by forcing 32 Joaquin turnovers in an 88-51 win here in Ram Gymnasium. It was almost an anticlimactic win for the Tigers as it was obvious that winning the league title is far from the defending Class 1A finalists' goal for the 2009-10 season.
Tenaha only trailed once in this contest when the Rams' Wyatt Hairgrove (15 points) hit a 3-pointer just 24 seconds into the contest to give JHS a 3-2 lead. The Tigers then ran off 15 consecutive points over a span of 3:08 to open up a 17-3 lead. Tenaha's Victor Johnson, who scored 19 points, started the run with a pair of buckets in the lane and a free throw. Jamon Moore, who poured in 22 points, capped the run with a pair of 3-pointers.
After the Rams' Dustin Bloodgood (13 points) put an offensive rebound back in, Moore hit a shot in the paint and Johnson scored six straight points to give the Tigers a 25-5 lead after the opening stanza.
As they have all season, the Tigers dictated the tempo of the contest with their full-court pressing defense. Tenaha forced nine first-quarter turnovers, while committing only one offensively and continued to keep the pressure on the Rams throughout the game. Tenaha committed only eight turnovers in the entire contest, which was 24 better than JHS.
Reginald Davis led the Tenaha offense with 23 points, while Jakendrick Cooper added eight points, Cobi Steadman and Shaquille Mitchell each chipped in five and Octavius Griffith scored four points. Jerrinson Reed closed out the Tenaha scorers with two points.
Smooch Wilson helped the Rams by scoring nine points, while Justin Lewis contributed six, Cole Leflett pitched in four points and Nathan Martinez and JaDerrick Norris scored two each.
The Tigers (20-4) eclipsed the 20-win mark on the season, claiming their 11th straight win and 15th victory in the last 16 games as THS improved its District 22-1A record to a spotless 11-0. Tenaha will close out the regular season on Monday night in the Tenaha Special Events Center against Cushing (6 p.m.). The Tigers will then host the Tyler Chapter of Officials Boys Playoff Preview next weekend in the SEC.
Tenaha will not have to play a bi-district game during the first round on Feb. 22-23 and will open Area play on Feb. 25 or 26.
Joaquin, which has a bye in the final date of the regular season, completed its season record at 4-12, while posting a 4-8 record in district. No.24-ranked Mount Enterprise (16-12, 8-3) and New Summerfield (18-12, 8-3) are currently tied for second place with one game left in the regular season. The Wildcats cancelled their non-district matchup with Laneville Friday night, while New Summerfield pulled into a tie by knocking off Timpson, 72-55, Friday afternoon at home. The Bears are now 11-13, 5-6 in 22-1A.
Mount Enterprise will visit Timpson on Monday night to close out the regular season, while New Summerfield will visit Gary on Tuesday in the two key games in the district. If the teams finish in a tie for second place, they could have a playoff or flip a coin to see which team will represent the league as the second-place team. The second-place team will take on the third-place team from District 21-1A in bi-district, while the third-place team will face the second-place finisher in 21-1A. The bi-district contests would be played Feb. 22 or 23.
After taking the 20-point lead at the end of the opening period Friday, the Tigers stretched the lead to 34-7 with 6:01 left in the second period. Steadman hit a trey and a layup, while Davis added a pair of layups off turnovers.
But the Rams kept battle, rolling off their longest streak of the night, an 11-0 run over 3:03 to cut the Tenaha lead to 34-18. Bloodgood scored four points to lead the charge.
However, Tenaha scored nine of the last 11 points of the quarter to stretch the lead back to 43-20 at the break.
The Tigers then outscored the Rams 22-17 and 23-14, respectively, over the final two periods to coast to the win. Tenaha played almost flawless basketball in the final 16 minutes, committing just five turnovers as THS Head Coach Todd Bodden continued to go to his bench.
District 22-1A Standings & Results
STATS AT A GLANCE
Scoring by Quarters
Tenaha 25 18 22 23 = 88
Joaquin 05 15 17 14 = 51
Individual Scorers: Tenaha - Reginald Davis 23; Jamon Moore 22; Victor Johnson 19; Jakendrick Cooper 8; Jacobi Steadman 5; Shaquille Mitchell 5; Octavius Griffith 4; Jerrinson Reed 2. Joaquin - Wyatt Hairgrove 15; Dustin Bloodgood 13; Smooch Wilson 9; Justin Lewis 6; Cole Leflett 4; Nathan Martinez 2; JaDerrick Norris 2.
Rebounds: Tenaha - Johnson 11; Davis 8; Mitchell 6.
Assists: Tenaha - Moore 5.
Steals: Tenaha - Davis 6; Mitchell 4.
Free Throws: Tenaha 4-of-11 (36.4%); Joaquin 5-of-12 (41.7%).
Turnovers: Tenaha 8; Joaquin 32.
Records: Tenaha 20-4; 11-0 district (district champions); Joaquin 4-12; 4-8.
Up Next: Tenaha will close out the regular season Monday night at home against Cushing at 6 p.m.; Joaquin's season is over. The Rams have a bye on Tuesday's final night of regular season.
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Tenaha JV 36, Joaquin JV 35 -- The Tenaha junior varsity overcame a 16-3 second quarter deficit here in Ram Gymnasium Friday night to keep its District 22-1A record unblemished as the Tigers battled back for a 36-35 win over the Rams.
The victory improves the Tigers to 13-4 on the year and keeps the team perfect against league teams with a 10-0 mark. Tenaha will close out the season Monday night at home against Cushing at 5 p.m.
Demon Horton led Tenaha with 19 points, while Jim Evans added five Assuntay Cleaver and Devonta Williams each pitched in four and Jakelvin Cooper scored two points.
Vaughn led the Rams with 12 points, while Austin Bloodgood chipped in nine.
Joaquin came out red-hot and had the Tigers reeling in the opening period as Joaquin opened up a 12-2 lead at the end of the quarter. The Rams then stretched the lead to 16-3 in the second quarter, before the Tigers pulled back to within 20-17 at the break.
The Rams inched closed in the third quarter, outscoring Tenaha 11-10 to stretch the lead to 31-27, but the Tigers stepped it up defensively in the fourth, holding the Rams to just four points as THS came from behind for the one-point victory.
STATS AT A GLANCE
Scoring by Quarters
Tenaha 02 15 10 09 = 36
Joaquin 12 08 11 04 = 35
Individual Scoring: Tenaha - Demon Horton 19; Jim Evans 5; Assuntay Cleaver 4; Devonta Williams 4; Jakelvin Cooper 2. Joaquin - Vaughn 12; Austin Bloodgood 9; Wilson 7; Kain Yates 5; Powdrill 2.
Records: Tenaha 13-4 (10-0).
Up Next: Tenaha will close out the season Monday at home against Cushing (5 p.m.). Joaquin's season is over.