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Traditionally, the Tigers basketball teams have played very few home games before entering district play. No different this year. They got off to a slow 0-6 start. Since then they improved to a 6-7 record, three of those wins came in home games. Two in district play. They are 6-13 on the season and 2-4 in district.
They traveled to Seguin to take on the Matadors. It was a game with winning possibilities. Instead they were ambushed with one of the Matadors turning in a 30-point performance enroute to a 79-54 loss. Seguin was up 21-12 after one and turned it up to 39-21 at the half. Did not get any better in the second half as Seguin continued to control the proceedings while making it 61-34 after three.
Kerrville would next come to town and the Tigers were able to turn the tables on the Antlers. Tivy had only lost a game in district play while the Tigers had only won one. The Tigers were up for the challenge as they had players that would step up for big quarters to take the 57-41 victory.
It was a high energy game with each team leaving it all on the floor with hustle for rebounds and lost balls plus ball movement. Each team did not mind putting the ball up from the three range. Tivy especially favored the three and did work the ball for percentage shots in the paint but Tiger defense forced them to not successfully execute. On the other hand, the Tigers were lights out in the paint hitting 11-14. They were equally tough from the three hitting 6-12. The Tigers did not get many attempts for a game but this came from the fact both teams worked hard for their shots and Tivy fouled many times in the act of shooting. The Tigers made them pay with 17-23 from the line.
Davis Budge started the game red hot scoring ten in the first quarter. DS jumped out to a 6-0 lead only to have Tivy tie it and later go ahead 11-9. DS surged back to make it 14-11 after one. Budge came through with another good quarter but Layne Herington would pitch in with 8. Tivy would get back to one (21-20) with four minutes left but the Tigers would go on a 9-0 run to close out the half 30-20.
The Tigers would maintain their 10-point advantage and added to it to lead 44-33 after three. It was Maddox Bloomgren's turn to have the big quarter. The only thing that kept Tivy in the game was the Tigers' fouling habits. The fourth brought about a habit with coaches that is hard to explain. There is a time for deliberate fouls trying to get back in the game but not behind 20 points and under two minutes. Only delays the inevitable.
If the Tigers are going to stay in this race, they will have to play this well as they get ready to face the top contenders in the next couple of weeks. They played Hays Johnson last Tuesday, then get NB Canyon and Boerne Champion.
Vs Seguin: Herington 15, Cade Brunson 9, Greyson Jones 8, Jaxon Reagan 6, Bloomgren 6, Dylan Ducharme 6, Budge 3, Josh Oliphant 2.
Vs Kerrville: Herington 16, Budge 16, Bloomgren 11, Brunson 9, Jack Williams 4, Isaac Rivera 1.
