Bulldogs win again to stay in first place
COAHOMA - It wasn't your text book basketball game. At times it got downright ugly, but the Coahoma Bulldogs remained in first place in District 5-3A with a 60-49 win here Friday night.
The win, for the Bulldogs, now 2-0 in league play, sets up a showdown with league favorite Reagan County, also undefeated, Tuesday night in Big Lake.
The Bulldogs had to hump for this win against a Sonora team that has won two games all season. The much shorter Broncos gave Coahoma fits all game, especially on the boards where they outrebounded Coahoma.
Courtesy Photo
In the end Coahoma coach Brandon Lucas had to depend on his young reserves to complete the job. Players like Tavyn Hipp, Mike Hernandez and Rowdy Atkins answered the bell when the Bulldogs were struggling. Hipp and Hernandez are freshmen and Atkins is a junior. They gave Lucas quality minutes when Coahoma got into foul trouble and appeared to be fading.
"Honestly, the freshmen on this team have been really focused lately in practice and in the game. A lot of players came together on the court
tonight," Lucas.
Sonora, powered by the play of Pete Flanages held the edge early. Flanges, who led Sonora with 16 points, made five of six shots in the first half for 11 points. Coahoma rebounded back from a 15-9 first quarter deficit to lead 27-23 at the half. It was ugly for Coahoma, the Bulldogs were stuck with two technical fouls, both on players Sonora turned it into three points.
The Bulldogs got it going early in the third quarter outscoing Sonora 12-5 in the first five minutes. Pesky Sonora was able to whittle the lead down to 40-38 going into the fourth.
Coahoma started to pull away when Devon Bennett and Hipp made three-pointers and Rasheem
Ashford started to impose his presence inside by scoring a couple of baskets. Hipp put the Broncos to rest with a three from the corner. Coahoma led comfortably 53-40 with 4:28 left in the game.
Coahoma was its own worst enemy for the most part. They shot 34 percent from the floor and a miserable 10 of 24 from the foul line. It blew numerous close shots under the goal and needlessly threw the ball away numerous times. Still the Bulldogs managed to win.
Ashford and Bennett led Coahoma with 13 points each. Ryan Shifflett scored 11. The unsung hero of the night was sophomore forward Billy Bailey, all 5-foot-8 inches of him. He battled hard on the boards, grabbling 14 rebounds.
"It's funny," said Lucas. "Billy is one of the smallest players on the team and he's been my best rebounder all year. I take this from that game. It's a positive when you can win an ugly one like this one."
COAHOMA (8-16,2-0) Tavyn Hipp 2 0 6; Ky Kemper 2 1 6; Ryan Shifflett 4 2 11; Austin Perkins 1 1 3; Devon Bennett 4 2 13; Billy Bailey 2 1 5; Raheem Ashford 5 3 13; totals 20-58' 10-24 60.
SONORA (2-11, 0-1) Tristan Ford 1 7 9; Josh Lozano 3 1 7; Raul Arrendondo 1 0 2; Julian Castillo 3 0 6; Pete Flanges 7 1 16; Marion Reyes 1 2 4; Charles Galliton 0 1 1; totals 17-55., 12-18, 49.
Coahoma - 09-18-13-20 - 60.
Sonora - 15-08-15-05 - 49.
Turnovers: Coahoma 15, Sonora 17; Three Pointers: Coahoma (Hipp 2, Kemper 1, Schifflett 1, Bennett 3); Sonora Lozano 1, Flanges 1); Rebounds: Coahoma 33 (Bailey 14, Ashford 6); Sonora 34 (Castillo 10, Lozano 7); Assists: Coahoma (Kemper 4); Sonora (Ford 3); Steals: Cohoma (Shifflett 2, Bennett 2); Sonora (Castillo 2); Blocked Shots: Coahoma (Kemper 2, Hipp 1, Bailey 1), Sonora (Carroll 1, Reyes 1).