The Rockdale Tigers suffered their eighth district loss to Little River-Academy 67-50 on Friday night after the undefeated Bumblebees got off to a fast start in the first quarter.
“We started off in the half-court trap,” said Sean Coleman, Rockdale High School boy’s head basketball coach. “Which has been a hit or miss for us this season.
“Against McGregor on Tuesday, it worked really well, but against Academy our energy wasn’t the same and they got off to a good start and were probably a bit more accurate than they usually are from the three-point line. That’s what got us.”
The Bumblebees made six threes in the first quarter with two each by Garrett Worden, Aaron Nickels and Phillip Cagle. Cagle made a 25-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to give Academy a 22-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bees continued to sting the Tigers going on an 8-2 run in the first four minutes of the second quarter. Rockdale turned things around with a 12-4 run for the remainder of the half. During Rockdale’s run, Braden Moore made a layup but the contest came to an immediate halt when Academy’s Jacob Woody-Hafen collided with Moore as the shot went up. Moore went with school trainers to the locker room and Woody-Hafen left the game as well.
The Tigers trailed 34-23 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Bumblebees outscored Rockdale 17-13 and controlled the fourth in a similar fashion with 16 points versus the Tiger’s 14. The Bumblebees won the game 67-50. Leading scorers for RHS were Kelan Evans with 17 points, and Mason Monzingo with 10.
The blue-and-gold got their first District 19-3A win earlier in the week on Tuesday night in McGregor 51-48. Evans led the Tigers with 19, and Mekhi Crawford had 10.
ROGERS—RHS faced Troy on Tuesday after press time and face the Rogers Eagles at 7:30 p.m., on the road on Friday.
The Tigers lost to the Eagles 52-28 on Tuesday, Jan. 8, after they outscored Rockdale 29-12 in the second half to take the game.
“That was the game after the overtime loss to Troy,” Coleman said. “I feel like we got in a funk, and just quit that game.
“Something was definitely not right with our rhythm. Although I need to get through to those guys better when we’re feeling down. It all starts with me.”
Coleman is in his first season as a high school basketball coach after a college career at the University of Houston, and a professional career in Japan and Mexico.
“It’s definitely been a process as a first year coach,” Coleman said. “I’ve learned a lot of things, particularly how to teach young men.
“But I’ve also studied my players a lot, and I know the most important thing with this group is too emphasize the basics. Stuff like always catching the ball with two hands. It’s a tough process, but I’m going to keep grinding and figure this out.”
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