Texas High vs. PG results,
The team that controls more of the tempo controls more of the game.
Texas High stayed ahead of Pleasant Grove throughout the game and defeated the Hawks, 69-55, at Hawk Gym on Friday in a crosstown varsity boys basketball game.
“I thought we played well, and I knew it was going to be a hard-fought game,” Texas High head coach Keith Jones said. “There was a packed house, and it was a good game. We played well and shot free throws very well. We rebounded well. We had some guys didn’t shoot as well as they normally do, but we had other guys step up.”
The Tigers (18-6) were led by CJ Kelley’s double-double. Kelley ended the night with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
As a team, Texas High was 20 of 22 from the charity stripe.
“They were making free throws and made more plays,” Pleasant Grove head coach Dwight McCowan said. “We would get a good, forced missed shot, but they would get the rebound and hit the putback. Neither team did good shooting from outside, but they did get a lot of second-chance points on us.”
Kamren Woods led the Hawks with 18 points.
Carlos Phillips scored 18 points for Texas High, Demarquis Vaughn had 14, and Kyle Wright added 12.
The Tigers hit on 23-of-54 shots for a field goal percentage of 43 percent. The Hawks hit 44 percent from the field on 21-of-48 shooting.
“My guys were emotionally involved because it is a rivalry game,” Jones said. “I think the games (crosstown rivalries) are good for the kids and good for basketball.”
Texas High took a slight 12-11 lead after the first quarter, but the lead was expanded to seven points by halftime, 26-19.
“All of the city games are great,” McCowan said. “I thought we played hard. Any time we play this emotional games, there is an emotional let down. We are still getting into our flow now that
we have our football players back.”
Kelley scored eight points in the third quarter, while Phillips added seven. The Tigers were up 43-32 going into the final stanza.
Pleasant Grove (10-11) tried for quick scores and then fouling later in the fourth quarter. Texas High hit on 11 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win.