Friday, April 26, 2024
Gatesville used a 29-6 second quarter burst to offset a sluggish first quarter en route to a 58-39 boys basketball victory over Stephenville on Jan. 10.
Gatesville trailed 14-8 after one quarter before the Hornets did what they’ve done all season long to get back in games. They cranked up the defensive pressure, allowing just 12 points over the second and third quarters.
Down 16-12 with 5:12 remaining in the second quarter, the Hornets erupted for a 21-4 run to essentially put the game away by halftime.
West Allman hit a three-point shot to make it 16-15, then scored on a layup and was fouled. He connected on the free throw to give the Hornets an 18-16 lead – their first since a 2-0 lead to start the game.
Carter Williams scored in transition to provide the first double-digit lead of the night at 29-18 and another West Allman bucket and foul shot later made it 34-18. Banner Allman’s rebound and putback made it 37-20 going into the break.
West Allman scored all 11 of his points in the second quarter while Tyler Shea had nine points in the frame. Shea led all scorers with 17 points and added four rebounds and five steals.
The Hornets forced 13 turnovers over the second and third quarters alone and converted 59% of their field goal attempts over that stretch.
They pushed the lead up over 20 points in the third, 47-26, when Trae Miller connected with Shea on an alley-oop dunk. Miller threw the lob from almost 30 feet from the basket and Shea’s sky-high finish elicited a significant amount of fanfare from the Stephenville students seated under the basket.
“I felt like I jumped out of the gym,” Shea said.
Banner Allman finished with 13 points and nine rebounds and Williams had 10 as four Hornets scored in double figures. Williams had five rebounds and Miller had five assists.
The win gave the Hornets a 21-3 mark in non-district play. Their 21 victories featured two tournament championships, a 17-game win streak, and a perfect 4-0 record against opponents from former District 6-4A opponents. They defeated Lampasas twice and Brownwood once before taking down the Yellow Jackets.
The Hornets began district play at home against Waco Connally on Jan. 13 and begin the district slate just seven wins away from tying a school record for wins in a season at 28. Gatesville entered the game with the highest scoring offense in the district averaging 71 points per game, while the Cadets were allowing just 45 points per game.
Following the Connally game they will play host to Salado on Jan. 17 before hitting the road for their first district road contest against Waco La Vega on Jan. 20.
Connally (17-4), China Spring (15-9), and La Vega (13-8) all finished non-district with winning records while Salado (7-17) and Robinson (6-15) enter with losing records. The Cadets are widely considered the district favorite.
