Lions win behind early lead

Contributing Writer

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—A 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter lifted New Boston to a 60-52 victory over the Daingerfield Tigers in the area round of the Region II-3A basketball playoffs Friday evening at Willie Williams Gym.

Tamiya Smith led the Lady Lions with 19 points, Carleigh Reeves chipped in with 15 and Carlee Ratcliff had 12. Mikayla Roberson paced Daingerfield with 23 points.

The District 14-3A champion Lions (21-12) advance to next week’s regional quarterfinals against unbeaten Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill (32-0), which ousted Elysian Fields, 73-27, in its area matchup. Chapel Hill, which went 12-0 in its league, also eliminated Paul Pewitt, 69-18, in bi-district action.

Daingerfield, the 15-3A co-champion with Tatum and district No. 2 seed, ends its season at 24-10.

New Boston, which never trailed, jumped out to a 16-point lead, 38-22, against Daingerfield midway in the third quarter before watching that advantage slowly slip away. Daingerfield rode a 15-2 scoring spree to pull within 40-37 with 2:30 left.

Roberson sparked the comeback bid with eight points in the period.

New Boston then answered with a 10-0 run of its own to to start the final quarter put the game away, 50-38, with 3:30 remaining.

The Lions grabbed an early lead 14-6, with Smith leading the way with eight points in the first period. Ratcliff nailed a 3-pointer to give New Boston a 19-10 lead at the first break. Grace Duffer and Chloe Davis also had baskets.

The Lions later went on a 9-0 tear to open a 32-14 cushion with three minutes left in the second period. The Tigers, however, stayed within 33-21 at halftime. NEW BOSTON (60): Smith 19, Reeves 15, Ratcliff 12, Taylor 2, Duffer 3, Davis 9. TEAM TOTALS 23 11-18 11 60.

DAINGERFIELD (52): Roberson 23, Garrett 10, Robinson 10, Jeter 3, Durham 3, Everett 2, Latchison 2. TEAM TOTALS 22 3-15 4 52. 3-point goals: NB-Duffer, Ratcliff, Davis; DF-Roberson 3, Garrett, Jeter.