Getting defensive
Lady Tigers improve district record to 2-0
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas High got defensive and turned 34 Sulphur Springs turnovers into a win Tuesday at Tiger Center.
The Lady Tigers shot 33 percent from the field but took advantage of an 18 turnover differential (16 for THS) to claim a 48-35 win over the Lady Wildcats, improving Texas High’s District 15-5A record at 2-0 (6-4 overall).
The Tigers finished 19-of-58 from the floor and narrowly lost the rebound battle, 39-35.
Sulphur Springs was 11-of-31 from the field for a 36 percent shooting percentage.
“We’ve talked about some of our previous games and finishing, not letting them creep back into the game,” Texas High coach Shonda Wilson said. “We hadn’t been shooting great from the line most of the game, but Ashanti (Northcross) is usually pretty good from the line at the end of the game.”
The Tigers travel to Hallsville Friday and host Longview next Tuesday with the freshman game tipping off at 11 a.m., followed by junior varsity and varsity.
Leading by seven coming out of intermission, Texas High opened the third quarter with back-to-back baskets and a 6-2 run to gain a double-digit lead (28-17) with 6:23 left in the third.
After another 6-point run by the Tigers, they led 34-20 for the largest lead up to that point.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats cut their deficit to six (39-33) with 2:45 left to play. THS scored the next nine points — five from the charity stripe — to seal the win.
“Defensively, we’re coming along but we still have some work to do,” Wilson said. “We’re still not in basketball shape, as a team, but we’re getting there. The girls are working hard and doing what I ask of them; we’re not missing defensive assignments. We try to take (our opponents’) best two players out of the game, and we did a pretty good job with that tonight.”
Northrcross finished 5-of-11 from the foul line and led THS in scoring with 13 points. Ashlyn Stiger poured in 11 points, and Amari Morrison had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
In a first half dominated mostly by defense, the Tigers went on a 6-0 run over 2:08 in the first quarter to take a 10-4 lead. Sulphur Springs closed the first on a 3-point swing and scored the first basket of the second quarter to close the gap to 10-9.
Jacia Collins and Emma Prince each drained a 3-pointer for Texas High in the second to grab leads of 13-9 and 18-14, the second starting a 7-point run to give THS a 22-14 lead.
The Tigers led 22-15 at halftime and had committed just nine turnovers, compared to 21 by Sulphur Springs.
Kenzie Willis had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats, and Nala Lindley pulled down 15 boards.
Texas High won the junior varsity game, 42-22, led by Kemiya Beasley’s eight points and Kiara Martin’s six.