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The holidays treated the Tigers very well in basketball. After a 5-day UIL mandated non-practice period Dripping Springs managed to play in a tourney and two district games. Early going in district shows the opponents to be weaker than normal. After three games only the Tigers and Westlake are undefeated. Otherwise there will be a big battle for the rest of the playoff berths.
For instance, for the past decades Lake Travis has been a painful thorn in our sides with mostly close losses. Presently they are 0-3 in district. The Tigers are playing well, getting solid play from their entire squad. Judson Loe and Rushton Budge have been the stable scorers and others coming as the supporting cast. The Tigers traveled to LT and got what they expected. A close game with the bonus of a 59-54 victory.
A couple of nights later DS hosted the Del Valle Cardinals. DV had a few acrobatic athletes but could not turn them into scores. There are no beauty points in basketball. The Tigers kept the pressure throughout the game and took a 10 -point early only and did not let it get much closer. It was 20-10 after one. A dry second quarter left it 25-20 at the half. After three it was 44-35 and ended 60-44. The big one will be Friday night when the Tigers host Westlake at Tiger Gym. It should reveal the dog in fight. The Tigers are 15-9 and Westlake 16-6 with nine games left.
During the holidays the Tigers entered the Hays Classic which has been a staple for many years. The Tigers lost to Antonian Prep 67-48 and Veteran Memorial 52-47 before rebounding to win versus Deer Park 61-50 and Hays High 56-31.
Scoring vs LT: Budge 22, Loe 18, Grant Reagan 7, Stone Patterson 7, Brady Coleman 2, Brayden Spencer 3.
Vs DV: Loe 26, Budge 16, Spencer 6, Reagan 5, Patterson 4, Grant Gillum 2, Coleman 2.
Vs AP: Loe 11, Budge 7, Reagan 6, Coleman 5, Spencer 5, David Adair 3, Ryan Shinn 3, Isaac Terry 3, Brandon Froidcoeur 2,Liam Lawson 2, Gillum 1.
Vs VM: Loe 27, Spencer 6, Budge 5, Reagan 5, Patterson 4.
Vs DP: Reagan 18, Budge 17, Loe 17, Paterson 4, Coleman 4.
Vs Hays: Loe 29, Budge 9, Lawson 6, Spencer 4, Terry 3, Reagan 3, Patterson 2.
Rushton Budge scored 16 points against Del Valley. PHOTO BY RONNIE ADAIR
