Thursday, May 2, 2024
The Gatesville boys basketball team raced to a 4-1 start to their season, matching their record through five games from a season ago.
The Hornets routed Lago Vista in their season opener 75-53 then topped Jarrell 44-43 in the second game of the season. Their third win of the year was a 62-50 win over 3A No. 7 Lorena, and the Hornets picked up their fourth win – and first road win – on Nov. 28 by beating Academy 61-48.
The Hornets lone loss was a buzzer-beating 58-56 road defeat at Lampasas.
West Allman has carried the bulk of the scoring load thus far averaging 22.3 points per game over the first five contests. Allman had 36 in the season opening win over Lago Vista, 21 in the comeback win over Jarrell, 25 in the win over Lorena, and 19 in the victory at Academy. He had a season-low 12 at Lampasas.
His 36-point night against Lago Vista was just six points off of the program’s single game scoring record of 42. Against Jarrell, the junior forward scored the final five points of the game, including a runner with 12 seconds left to win the game.
Charlie Winkler has emerged as scoring threat, averaging 11.8 points per game thus far. He had 24 in the loss to Lampasas and 16 in the win over Academy. The sophomore sharpshooter is shooting 47% (7-15) from behind the three-point line in the last two games. Winkler had nine rebounds in the win over Academy and eight assists in the season-opening win over Lago Vista.
Kase Cox is averaging 9.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game thus far. The junior forward turned in a double-double in the win over Lorena with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Graceson Stewart turned in a career-high 17 points in the win over Lago Vista and is grabbing six rebounds per game for the Hornets.
Gatesville played their first two games of the year without Rayshon Smith, Amos Phillips, Logan Biggs, and Scout Hall who were members of the Hornets football team.
Since returning, Smith is averaging 8 points and four rebounds per game. Phillips had his best game since returning with eight points, four rebounds, and two steals in the win over Academy.
Gatesville began defense of their 2022 Coach Smith Tournament championship in Salado on Nov. 30. They open tournament play against Pflugerville, the team they beat in the title game a year ago. They will follow with pool play games against Austin Royals, Rockdale, and 4A No. 13 Krum.
