After a limited preseason schedule of just under a month of games, the No.4-ranked Tenaha Tigers, last year's Class 1A D-II state finalists, are going to begin District 22-1A play on Friday. On Tuesday night they dropped their first road contest of the year, falling to Class 3A Gladewater, 56-53, in Gladewater.
The setback for Tenaha (7-3) was only its third of the year, and by a total of seven points. Both of the team's previous two setbacks came at the hands of No.2-ranked (Class 1A D-II) Laneville - with one setback coming in overtime.
The Tigers will begin defense of its district title Friday night at Garrison (1-3). There will be junior varsity girls and boys action beginning at 4:30 p.m., with varsity girls tipping off at approximately 6:30 p.m. and varsity boys at 8 p.m.
In other District 22-1A games on Friday, Gary (10-9) will host Beckville (1-11) and Shelbyville (3-10) will be at Timpson (4-13). Tuesday's matchups will put the Tigers at home against Timpson, while Garrison visits Gary and Beckville hosts Shelbyville.
Only a pair of Tenaha players reached double-figure scoring against Gladewater as Octavius Griffith led the Tigers with 14 points and Reginald Davis knocked in 11.
Shaquille Mitchell managed eight points, while Chavis Gregory knocked down six, Jacoby Ivy pitched in four and DeAaron Roland and LaDarren Cooks each scored two points.
Tenaha built a four-point lead over the Bears, 16-12, at the end of the first quarter, but THS was held to just six points in the second quarter as Gladewater took a 31-22 advantage at the half.
The Tigers came alive again in the third quarter, scoring 16 points, to cut the Bears' lead to 41-38, but Gladewater held off the Tenaha rally.
"We're still playing like we 'want' to play football," said Tenaha assistant coach Antonio Holmes. "We're still in very much need of more practice before we get into true 'basketball mode'."