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Just before District 266A boys basketball began, I checked with Dripping Springs High School basketball coach Craig Swannack to see who were the top teams in the district. To my surprise, he said the district this year is strong from top to bottom.
Four games deep in district play, and his prediction is understandable. Just a basket or two has been the difference with the Dripping Springs Tigers being recipients on either side of that. The Tigers have deserved better, but at this point, they are 1-3 and playing hard. The Tigers defeated Akins High School 78-76 and lost to Lake Travis High School 52-41.
Austin’s Akins was one of those surprising teams. They showed they had a solid team with some good players. They jumped out to an early lead and refused to give it up during the first half, leading by as many as six much of the time. Akins held on to a first quarter 18-15 lead, and at the half, it was 41-37.
Dripping Springs went back to work in the third and kept the pressure on. They would manage to earn four ties and take the lead three times. However, Akins would survive with a 58-57 advantage. It would bring the consequences to be settled in the fourth or more. It was nip and tuck all the way with the Tigers managing to tie three times with their only lead coming at 71-69 at the 2.31 mark. Akins tied it, and Judson Loe hit a long three from the top of the circle for a 74-71 lead. Akins would work back for a tie at 76, but single free throws by Cade Brunson and Loe sealed the deal.
The next night, the Tigers would take on the always tough Lake Travis Cavaliers. It was a typical game with the score staying close for much of the game. There were three lead changes in the first quarter with the Cavaliers holding a 15-14 lead after one. The Tigers came alive and controlled the second quarter to take a 27-21 margin at the half. It has always been very hard to keep a Lake Travis team down for a complete game as they worked their way back to a 38-38 tie after three. Once again, it would be a game decided in the fourth. Davis Budge would pop a quick three pointer, and it looked the Tigers might be ready to go. Unfortunately, that was the last basket made by the Tigers while the Cavaliers would reel off a 14-0 run for the victory.
Vs. Akins: Loe 13, Luke Spozio 12, Brunson 9, Maddox Bloomgren 8, Josh Oliphant 8, Jaxon Reagan 8, Kooper Brown 4, Budge 4, Zach Fleming 4, Carter Larsen 3, Dakin Drewitz 3, Benjamin Beatty 2.
Vs. Lake Travis: Spozio 9, Austin Moore 8, Reagan 6, Budge 6, Oliphant 4, Fleming 3, Loe 3, Bloomgren 2.
