MBB: Tigers shake off Gary challenge, 66-45
with Tenaha J.R. Hill during Friday night's game in Bobcat
Gymnasium. (Photo by Ray Jackson)
GARY, Tx -- The Tenaha Tigers and Gary Bobcats came into Friday night's district contest here in Bobcat Gymnasium with identical 4-0 league records. The Tigers left no doubt, however, about who is the 'top dog' in District 22-1A Division I, using their suffocating man-to-man defense to hold the 'Cats to only seven points over the second and third periods, while scoring 35 of their own en route to 66-45 win.
It's downright scary for the rest of the district to see that kind of dominance from Tenaha, especially when you consider that one of the best athletes in East Texas, point guard Reginald Davis, is still sitting on the bench nursing a sore knee.
The victory leaves the Tigers (12-3) with a five-game winning streak and in sole possession of first place at 5-0, while the Bobcats, who saw their four-game win streak snapped, dropped to 4-1, but still in second place, one game ahead of third-place Timpson, which is 3-2.
In other District 22-1A games on Friday, Timpson (7-15) rolled over Beckville (1-16), 60-42, and Garrison (3-6) topped Shelbyville (4-14), 46-34.
Garrison remains in fourth place with a 2-3 record, one game behind Timpson and two behind Gary. Shelbyville is now 1-4 in league play, while Beckville is winless at 0-5.
After using their outside shooting skill to jump out to a 20-18 lead at the end of the first period, the Bobcats couldn't seem to buy a basket in the second and third quarter, as the Tigers outscored them 19-5 in the second to pull out to a 37-25 lead at halftime.
The third period brought more of the same as the Tigers outscored the Bobcats 16-2 to stretch the lead to 53-27 going into the fourth period.
With the outcome safely in hand, the Tigers dialed back the pressure, and the 'Cats took advantage, scoring eighteen fourth quarter points to make the final score 66-45.
With Davis out, the Tigers have turned to fellow senior Octavius Griffith for leadership, and he responded with 21 points to lead all scorers. Demon Horton followed closely with 17, while Shaquille Mitchell, Jacoby Ivy, and DeAaron Roland added six each.
Tigers head coach Todd Bodden was pleased with the win, but believes his team needs to continue improving to be ready for the team's run in the playoffs. "We are getting better, but we are still not where we need to be. We're going to keep working."
The Bobcats were led by senior guard Luke Thornton with twelve points. Matt Wood added five and Colton Coleman and Stephen White each tossed in four.
With five district games remaining, the Tigers are in control of things, and the Bobcats are solidly in second place. The Timpson Bears are sitting in third place at 3-2 and Garrison still has a strong shot at the postseason.
Tuesday night will feature Gary traveling to Beckville, Garrison goes to Tenaha, and Timpson heads to Shelbyville.