MBB: Bears strengthen hold on playoff spot
Kawmain Singleton as the Bears' Dimric Caraway (30) looks on during
Tuesday night's game in Dragon Gymnasium. The Bears won the
game, 48-44. (Photo by John Krueger)
SHELBYVILLE, Tx -- Leading by one to begin the fourth quarter Tuesday night, the Timpson Bears went on a 9-0 run over the first 2:15 of the final period. That burst turned out to be enough as the Bears held off a furious Shelbyville rally and THS captured a critical 48-44 District 22-1A D-I win over the Dragons here in Dragon Gymnasium.
The win was huge for the Bears (8-15) as it gave them a 4-2 league mark and a two-game lead over fourth-place Garrison (2-7, 2-4 district) in the league standings with four games remaining in the regular season. Garrison was dropping a 84-33 setback to No.4-ranked and league-leading Tenaha (13-3, 6-0 district).
Gary (15-10) continued to hold second place in the District 22-1A standings with a 52-11 victory over last-place Beckville (1-17, 0-6 district). The Bobcats are 5-1 against league competition.
Shelbyville (4-15) fell to 1-5 in district with the setback to the Bears.
Friday's games will feature Timpson hosting Tenaha, while Gary travels to Garrison and Shelbyville hosts Beckville.
Jaylin Rhodes and Lorenzo Young were the 1-2 punch for the Bears in the victory. Rhodes scored eight points in the first and third quarters, finishing with a game-high 16. Young saved his best for last, dumping in seven points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 14.
Tevin Brown added six points for THS, with Dimric Caraway and John Jacobs chipping in five apiece and Jay Bussey scored two points.
"This is a tough district top to bottom," said a physically and emotionally drained Timpson head coach Cody Anthony after the win. "There are no easy teams in this district from top to bottom. Credit has to be given to (Shelbyville head coach) Reggie (Parks) and his team; they played a heck of a game and just wouldn't quit all night long.
"No game is a given in this district and no lead is safe. We could be up by 20 points in the fourth quarter and I wouldn't be able to relax because the teams in this district keep coming at you."
Trevor Henkel led the Dragon attack, scoring 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half. C.J. Watson dumped in 11 points, James Bradford managed seven, Jah'Michael Jenkins added six, Tyre Barnes scored three, Caleb Stracener scored two and Dee Osby scored one point.
Both teams relied on their pressing defenses and both were effective. Shelbyville finished the game with 43 turnovers, while Timpson had 41.
"We live and die with our defense," Anthony continued. "We press and try to cause turnovers, but it also means that we give up some things. But it's the way we've played since day one and we're going to continue to do it.
"I'm so proud of my guys. We've been talking about playing for that last playoff spot and the kids are taking ownership in working toward it. They really have turned into a team that wants to win and will do whatever it takes. Now we need to make the final push to get in."
The contest was close most of the way. The squads battled to a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter and the Dragons took a 21-20 lead into the locker room at the half.
Timpson put together a pair of short runs in the third quarter and secured a 33-31 lead heading into the final stanza. And it was the burst to begin the final quarter which gave the Bears the leverage needed to gain the win.