The Coahoma Bulldog Boys basketball team gets first win in season opener
COAHOMA - Brandon Lucas started his coaching career in style - with a convincing win as the Coahoma Bulldogs basketball team defeated the Sands Mustangs 48-27 in the season opener for both teams Friday night.
For the 27-year-old Lucas, who was an assistant at Breckenridge, the win was all about his team. "I really can't say how I feel, I really don't think about it," Lucas said when asked about his first win as a head coach. "It's all about the players. I go to bed at night and wake up in the morning thinking about how I can help these guys improve as players and people."
Lucas definitely saw improvement from his team in the second half. The Bulldogs turned a close game into a runaway, limiting the Mustangs to 12 second half points.
Coahoma started the game strong outscoring Sands 16-6 in the first period. Coahoma made three three-pointers in the stanza, two by Ryan Shifflet and one by Raheem Ashford. That duo led the Bulldogs throughout the night. Shiflett, a sophomore forward, finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds while Ashford scored nine points and had 12 rebounds.
Someone put a lid on the Coahoma basket in the second period and it went scoreless. Sands, led by Caleb king and Brady Spivey helped the Mustangs pull to within 16-15 at the half.
Utilizing its trapping press Coahoma took over the game midway through the third period, going on a 8-0 run in a two minute span. Guards Billy Bailey, Arian Emerson and Ky Kemper led the charge
Courtesy Photo with steal after steal. Coahoma led 31-23 going into the fourth. Tthe Coahoma defense forced 25 Sands turnovers in the game.
To start the fourth Tavyn Hipp made a three and Michael Hernandez dished off to Jessie Hernandez for a bucket and Coahoma was well on its way to a win.
"We have a saying defense makes offense. We're lucky we have the kind of athletes that are able to defend,: Lucas said.
The Bulldogs will be at home Tuesday when they host Midessa at 2:30 p.m.
SANDS - Jaden Flentegel 1 0 2; A.J. Tomlinson 1 0 2; Chuy Porras 2 0 4; avier Cinceros 0 2 2; Caleb King 4 0 10; Brady Spivey 3 2 8 totals; 10-36, 5-7, 27.
COAHOMA - Arian Emerson 2 0 4; Tavyn Hipp 1 0 3; Ky Kemper 2 0 6; Ryan Shiflett 5 1 13; Billy Bailey 5 0 10; Raheem Ashford 4 0 9; Jessie Hernandez 1 0 2; totals 21-58, 2-10, 48.
Sands 06-09-08-04 - 27
Coahoma 16-00-15-17 - 48
Individual leaders Turnovers - Sands 25, Coahoma 13; Rebounds Sands 22 (Spivey 5, Tomlinson 5; Coahoma (Shiflett 13, Ashford 12), Three pointers - Sands (King 2); Coahoma (Shiflett 2, Hipp 1, Ashford 1); Assists Sands (Porras 2); Coahoma (Kemper 4); Block shots - Sands (Niall Connell 1); Coahoma (Shiflett 1, Ashford 1).