Sports > Schools
11-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Sachse slips past North Garland to move into fourth place
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Tuesday's game between a .500 Sachse team and a winless North Garland squad might not seem like a big game.
But at the end of the season, the Mustangs' 57-55 victory over the Raiders might prove to be huge.
Sachse's win, coupled with undefeated and district-leading Lakeview's victory over Garland, allowed the Mustangs (3-2) to take a one-game lead over the Owls (2-3) in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot.
It certainly did not come easy for Sachse. North Garland grabbed the early lead only to have the Mustangs fight back to take a 26-23 advantage into halftime.
The game remained close throughout the second half, but Sachse, behind 12 points from Michael Olivares and nine from Michael Douglas, was able to do just enough to hold on for the two-point win.
Michale Allen had 15 points and Beniam Debebe scored 13 to lead the Raiders.
The Mustangs will try to follow up on that momentum with a big week ahead, as they host district-leading Lakeview on Friday and then play at second-place Rowlett on Tuesday.
The Eagles got some time to regroup after their 26-point loss to Lakeview with a bye on Tuesday and will return to action on Friday with a road game against Garland.
FRIDAY
Rowlett earned plenty of attention during its 14-0 start that landed them a spot in the Class 5A state poll.
The Eagles carried that success over into 11-5A play, where they were 4-0.
But Lakeview had put together an impressive record of its own, including a matching 4-0 mark in district play.
The Patriots, who are just two years removed from a state runner-up finish, looked much like that 2011 team on Friday as they blasted Rowlett in a 76-50 victory.
The Patriots left little doubt from the start, opening the game with a 20-5 run. Rowlett tried to hang around, but could not shave anything off its deficit. Lakeview pushed the lead to 22 through three quarters and were able to relax in the fourth.
Jeffrey Carroll scored 23 points and Nathan Hawkins added 16, but no other Eagle player had more than four points.
In another big game on Friday, Naaman Forest moved ahead of Sachse for third place with a 50-42 victory.
The Rangers led by three early on, and then doubled up the Mustangs, 12-6, in the second quarter to take a 28-19 lead.
The second half was evenly played, but Sachse could not afford that, as it was unable to make enough of a charge.
A.J. Goss and Marlo Johnson each scored nine points for the Mustangs, while Marcus Hubbard and Josh Robertson had eight apiece.
STANDINGS
Lakeview 5-0 21-5
Rowlett 4-1 17-3
Naaman Forest 4-2 9-16
Sachse 3-2 11-11
Garland 2-3 10-14
North Garland 0-5 5-13
South Garland 0-5 5-14
Tuesday's Results
Sachse 57, North Garland 55
Lakeview 70, Garland 39
Naaman Forest 73, South Garland 62
Rowlett, bye
Friday's Results
Lakeview 76, Rowlett 50
Naaman Forest 50, Sachse 42
Garland 61, North Garland 44
South Garland, bye
Friday's Games
Rowlett at Garland
Lakeview at Sachse
North Garland at South Garland
Naaman Forest, bye
Tuesday's Games
Sachse at Rowlett
Naaman Forest at North Garland
South Garland at Lakeview
Garland, bye
But at the end of the season, the Mustangs' 57-55 victory over the Raiders might prove to be huge.
Sachse's win, coupled with undefeated and district-leading Lakeview's victory over Garland, allowed the Mustangs (3-2) to take a one-game lead over the Owls (2-3) in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot.
It certainly did not come easy for Sachse. North Garland grabbed the early lead only to have the Mustangs fight back to take a 26-23 advantage into halftime.
The game remained close throughout the second half, but Sachse, behind 12 points from Michael Olivares and nine from Michael Douglas, was able to do just enough to hold on for the two-point win.
Michale Allen had 15 points and Beniam Debebe scored 13 to lead the Raiders.
The Mustangs will try to follow up on that momentum with a big week ahead, as they host district-leading Lakeview on Friday and then play at second-place Rowlett on Tuesday.
The Eagles got some time to regroup after their 26-point loss to Lakeview with a bye on Tuesday and will return to action on Friday with a road game against Garland.
FRIDAY
Rowlett earned plenty of attention during its 14-0 start that landed them a spot in the Class 5A state poll.
The Eagles carried that success over into 11-5A play, where they were 4-0.
But Lakeview had put together an impressive record of its own, including a matching 4-0 mark in district play.
The Patriots, who are just two years removed from a state runner-up finish, looked much like that 2011 team on Friday as they blasted Rowlett in a 76-50 victory.
The Patriots left little doubt from the start, opening the game with a 20-5 run. Rowlett tried to hang around, but could not shave anything off its deficit. Lakeview pushed the lead to 22 through three quarters and were able to relax in the fourth.
Jeffrey Carroll scored 23 points and Nathan Hawkins added 16, but no other Eagle player had more than four points.
In another big game on Friday, Naaman Forest moved ahead of Sachse for third place with a 50-42 victory.
The Rangers led by three early on, and then doubled up the Mustangs, 12-6, in the second quarter to take a 28-19 lead.
The second half was evenly played, but Sachse could not afford that, as it was unable to make enough of a charge.
A.J. Goss and Marlo Johnson each scored nine points for the Mustangs, while Marcus Hubbard and Josh Robertson had eight apiece.
STANDINGS
Lakeview 5-0 21-5
Rowlett 4-1 17-3
Naaman Forest 4-2 9-16
Sachse 3-2 11-11
Garland 2-3 10-14
North Garland 0-5 5-13
South Garland 0-5 5-14
Tuesday's Results
Sachse 57, North Garland 55
Lakeview 70, Garland 39
Naaman Forest 73, South Garland 62
Rowlett, bye
Friday's Results
Lakeview 76, Rowlett 50
Naaman Forest 50, Sachse 42
Garland 61, North Garland 44
South Garland, bye
Friday's Games
Rowlett at Garland
Lakeview at Sachse
North Garland at South Garland
Naaman Forest, bye
Tuesday's Games
Sachse at Rowlett
Naaman Forest at North Garland
South Garland at Lakeview
Garland, bye
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News