EDITOR’S NOTE: Texarkana area high schools from Bowie, Cass and Miller counties are urged to text or email results of their boys and girls basketball games to Louie Avery at 903-826-3179, or lavery@cableone.net.
Wright, Kelly spark Tigers past L-E
Liberty-Eylau’s Rader Dome was packed Tuesday night, where Texas High frustrated the smaller Leopards in both teams’ final warmup for district play.
Guard Kyle Wright swished four of his six treys in the second half, and the Tigers pulled away for a 69-51 victory. Wright finished with a game-high 24 points. Six-foot-7 post C.J. Kelly dominated the boards and contributed 17 points. Cole Drumm added 12 points for Texas High (19-6).
“We didn’t shoot the ball well in the first half; it was a real physical game,” Texas High coach Keith Jones said. “It took us a while to get adjusted to L-E’s physical play. I thought we played better in the second half. We rebounded well, and I thought we played well.”
The Tigers were nursing a 28-23 lead at halftime, pulling away in the final minutes of the third quarter when Wright got hot.
“Height is our big disadvantage,” L-E coach Stasik Vaughn said. “We’ve got three seasons that we work on, and the first season ended tonight. Our second season is district. The third season is the playoffs. That’s our goal. Tonight, we simply gave up too many second shots.”
Senior Isaiah Cross led the Leopards’ offense with 12 points, while Dominique Williams added 10.
Texas High opens district play Friday at home against Mount Pleasant. L-E entertains Paris in its league opener Friday.
Lady Hawks top L-E in thriller
Keshawn Davis dominated play in the first half, and teammate Ashanti Levingston took over the final two quarters as Pleasant Grove’s girls survived a strong challenge from Liberty-Eylau, 55-49.
Davis poured in 14 of her 16 points in the first half, enabling the Lady Hawks to build a 29-21 lead at halftime. L-E rallied within two points twice in the second half, but Levingston’s game-high 18 points prevented the Hawks from ever losing the lead.
Rebounding was a big key for Pleasant Grove (20-3, 2-0), the Hawks routing L-E on the glass, 58-31. Mia Ware had seven of her 12 rebounds in the fourth quarter. Davis had 12 rebounds, while Asia Lloyd added 10 boards. Free throw shooting was also decisive, the Hawks outscoring L-E 13-6 at the charity stripe.
Keeley Norris played well for the Leopards (15-10, 1-1), with a team-high 12 points and nine rebounds.
Pleasant Grove’s boys and girls play at Pittsburg Friday, while L-E hosts Paris.
Arkansas High drops pair at home
Arkansas High’s boys outscored Hot Springs 27-16 in the final nine minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough. The Trojans built a 30-point lead late in the third quarter, cruising past AHS, 73-54.
Micah Yarber led Arkansas High with 15 points. Jaylon Randal added 11 for the Hogs. The Razorbacks fall to 2-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play, while Hot Springs improved to 14-2.
The Lady Backs dropped a heart-breaker to Hot Springs, 36-33. AHS got a strong performance from Jayla Easter, Cedrianna Daniels and Allyssa Young on the boards. Easter led the host team with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Both Arkansas High teams will be back in action Friday at Sheridan.
Atlanta boys, girls sweep Dragons
ATLANTA, Texas – Keyona Easter was on fire for the second straight district game Tuesday in leading Atlanta’s girls past Redwater, 78-45.
Easter had a triple-double with 36 points, 14 steals and 11 assists to lead the Lady Rabbs. Sheveionia Smith almost matched Easter with 32 points and nine steals.
Senior Karlee Carmony led the Lady Dragons with 16 points.
Daimion Collins scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half in helping Atlanta’s boys beat Redwater, 55-36. Charlie Powell had 10 points for the winners. The Dragons’ Parker Gravitt scored a game-high 16 points, while teammate Gabe Menah contributed 14.
Queen City, Brewer get first district win
NEW BOSTON, Texas – Queen City recorded its first district win of the season under new head coach Billy Brewer Tuesday night by defeating New Boston, 55-51.
Colton Davis led the Bulldogs with 19 points, while Easton Fincher added 16. Jamin Powell had 20 points for New Boston.
New Boston’s girls defeated Queen City, 51-19. Tamiya Smith and Grace Duffer led the Lady Lions with 12 points each. Cece Walke had six points for the Lady Dawgs.