Friday, May 3, 2024
Gatesville turned in its most complete game in more than a month on Friday, using a stellar defensive stretch over the second and third quarters to dispose of China Spring 64-50 and maintain an outside shot a district title.
The Hornets (25-4, 4-1) outscored the Cougars 36-17 over the middle two periods to turn a 15-13 first quarter deficit into a 49-32 lead after three quarters. It was a performance head coach Brit Campbell was more than excited to see after three straight nail-biters in district.
“I was really proud of our overall defensive effort. I thought it was the best we have played in a very long time,” Campbell said. “(China Spring) is a really good team when they shoot it well and they have so many guys who can shoot it. We did work on a few adjustments defensively, but more than anything the guys played hard … aggressive, and just got after them on the defensive end.”
China Spring (17-12, 2-3) hit three three-pointers in the first quarter but managed to hit only 4 of their final 28 attempts. They attempted 35 three-pointers and 25 two-pointers.
“I think it was just us getting after it, getting back to are old ways of just flying around, and playing together,” said Banner Allman.
In contrast to the Cougars bombs-away approach, the Hornets attempted only eight three pointers – connecting on four. They shot 56% from two-point range and scored 46 points in the paint.
The win means that the Hornets wrapped up the first half of the district slate at 4-1 and in second place in the league standings. The win also carries some added value for the Hornet program as it came against a consistently excellent program in China Spring. Familiarity between players also contributed to the big-game atmosphere.
Connally sits atop the 23-4A standings at 5-0 after the first round of district. The Hornets (4-1) are second, followed by La Vega (3-2), China Spring (2-3), Salado (1-4), and Robinson (0-5). The Hornets were scheduled to visit Connally on Jan. 31 pending weather conditions being appropriate for travel.
“I think we were more fired up to play them ‘cause we played them a lot in the fall and summer,” Allman said. “They were all good games and we knew the stands would be packed.”Tyler Shea and Banner Allman combined to scored 30 points in the paint and grab 20 rebounds. Shea led all scorers with 21 points and had nine rebounds while Allman turned in another double-double, with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
While Shea and Allman have proven to be the Hornets’ two most consistent, statistically productive players – they combine to average 36 points and 17 rebounds per game – it was Carter Williams who again demonstrated his value in the win over the Cougars.
The senior forward scored 10 points, pulled down four rebounds, dished out four assists, and was a constant disruption to the Cougars offense. Williams scored all of his points inside the paint.
“Carter is extremely important. He plays great defense night in and night out, usually guarding one of the team’s best players,” Campbell said. “He scores big buckets naturally and has a knack for coming up for one right when we need it. He’s also one of the best at passing the ball and making things happen with his unselfish and team-first mentality.”
Gatesville took a quick 2-0 lead but would trail until Williams hit Banner Allman for a layup to tie the game at 15-15. China Spring quickly took the lead back at 17-15 on a layup from Braden Jewell but the Hornets closed the second quarter on a 17-5 run.
Banner Allman hit a three-pointer to make it 18-17. Then Williams put back a miss for a 20-17 lead. Shea followed with his own personal 5-0 run to push the lead to 25-17.
Following a China Spring timeout, Jewell buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to 25-20. Up 26-22, the Hornets scored the last six points of the half via a runner from Williams, a layup from Shea and a buzzer-beating lay-in from Trae Miller.
Miller’s layup gave the Hornets a 10-point cushion, 32-22, at halftime but a late third-quarter run ultimately provided the difference.
After Banner Allman hit a three-pointer to make it 44-30 late in the third quarter, the Hornets were whistled for a technical foul – much to the dismay of Campbell and to the packed Gatesville side of the bleachers.
Perhaps in response – or merely in protest – to the call, the Hornets closed the quarter with an inspired stretch of basketball led by sophomore Kase Cox.
China Spring’s Zach May hit two free throws to make it 44-32 after the technical but Cox – a sophomore forward – scored the final five points of the quarter. His layup made it 46-32 and then he connected on a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in the quarter to make it 49-32.
“They definitely cranked it up. That call fueled our guys and we turned it on even more,” Campbell said. “Kase gave us great minutes, he played some lock-down defense came out and was aggressive and confident on offense.”
In the fourth quarter the Hornets extended their lead to as many as 21 points as the Cougars attempted to shoot their way into a comeback — but made just 1 of 13 three-point attempts in the quarter.
On the night China Spring forced 24 Hornet turnovers that led to 23 Cougar points. The Hornets outrebounded the Cougars 41-23 and scored 22 points on second-chance baskets.
“Overall I was excited to see us play the way we did,” Campbell said. “It was a huge game against a great team and the guys definitely played for it.”
