Tigers Roll Into District Season

The team that ended the Tigers playoff run in 2009 was sent packing with an 82-63 loss on Monday night in Wills Point.

The Tigers hosted Texarkana Pleasant Grove, and jumped out to a 26-12 lead in the first quarter. The visitors closed to within 11, at 43-32 at the half, but Wills Point increased its’ lead in the third and fourth quarters.

"We’re playing pretty well right now," said head coach Jimmy Wallace. "We’re playing hard, and we’re playing good defense. You can’t tell it from the score against Pleasant Grove, but they pressed the whole game, so we were shooting layups. If you’re shooting layups they’re getting the ball back quick. It was a pretty fast-paced game."

The Tigers top three scorers started at a fast pace in. Junior Hamilton, Steven Cunigan and Josh Boyd combined to score 22 of the team’s 26 in the quarter.

Hamilton stayed on pace, scoring eight in the second and finishing with 25. Cunigan finished with 16 and Trent Jurica scored 12, including six-of-six from the line. Boyd and Evann Padilla each scored nine, Clay Deen eight, Marquis Burch two and Brett Bradshaw one.

The biggest game of the season to this point will take place in Wills Point on Friday when the Tigers host district rival Van.

"Both teams are playing well right now," Wallace said. "It’s going to be a battle. Van just doesn’t beat themselves, so you have to play solid basketball against them."