Griggs powers Hurricanes’ win
Bryce Griggs is known to put the ball in the basket for No. 2 Fort Bend Hightower.
Despite pouring in 26 points as Hightower rolled Sharpstown 87-56, the sophomore wasn’t worried about his own scoring Monday night at Butler Field House.
“It always look to get my teammates involved,” Griggs said after the Hurricanes’ bi-district win. “That’s what made us come out hungry. I know that I’m going to get mine, but I want my teammates to eat too. We got the win, and now we have to get ready for our next game.”
Hightower (29-5) advances to the area round and will face the winner of the bi-district game between Port Arthur and Friendswood on Tuesday night.
Sharpstown ends the season 19-11.
Hightower coach Stephen Woods knows what he has in Griggs.
“I keep telling people he’s a point guard,” Woods said. “He loves to pass and get his teammates invlived. Once teams see him get going, they bring two people at him, and then he looks for the extra pass to get his teammates involved. Then they forget about him for some reason, and he starts making open shots. He’s a special player.”
Griggs saw multiple double teams from the Apollos on Monday night.
“It just shows respect,” he said. “When that happens, I just keep my head up and look for the open pass. We have to start strong and finish strong.”
Griggs’ 3-pointer highlighted the Hurricanes’ hot start and 7-0 run.
The Apollos answered right back with a 9-0 run, Fadi Mott knocking down a 3pointer, making a mid-range jumper and hitting two free throws.
The Hurricanes responded and finished the first quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 17-12 lead at the first buzzer.
“I told them before the game that Sharpstown wasn’t going to give us this game,” Woods said. “I reiterated at that at halftime to our team.”
Hightower held onto its momentum and went on an 8-0 run, outscoring the Apollos 23-16 in the second quarter.
The Apollos cut the lead to 10 after Mott drove into the lane for a layup, but that’s the closest Sharpstown would get to the Hurricanes, who led 40-29 at halftime.
Mott had 17 points for the Apollos while Trevon Banks added 16 points.
The Hurricanes’ defense stepped up in the second half, causing turnovers as Hightower outscored Sharpstown 47-27.
“Our depth started hurting them a little bit, and we were able to score some layups and get some open shots,” Woods said. “We started pressing a little more and trapping and were able to get things going in the second half.”
Hightower’s Ja Robertson scored 10 points, and Christopher Harris finished with 11 points.
“We’re going to get back at it tomorrow, and we have to go scout Port Arthur and Friendswood,” Woods said. “Once we do that, we will get our game plan together and go from there. I was proud of how our team played and we will be ready to go in the next round.”