Everything looked great for the Tigers during the first quarter of Friday night’s game in Caldwell. They led 15-6 with a team that only had four players that began the season on varsity.
Fortunes changed for the Blue-and-Gold in the second, as the Hornets outscored Rockdale 23-1 and ultimately went on to beat RHS 57-30.
Rockdale was led in scoring by sophomore Mason Willard with 8. Due to COVID protocols, the Tigers were without junior Chris Perez, who led the team in scoring with 23 points against Rogers the week before.
Many players that saw the floor in Caldwell were players that have spent much of the season on junior var sity, including Tristan Jackson, David Penny, Nykiem Crawford and Aiden Hirt.
Ivan Bonner also cleared concussion protocol and played his first game of the new year.
LAST WEEK—Three days earlier, Rockdale lost 67-34 at home to Lexington in a game LHS led from the beginning. Perez led Rockdale with 14, while Chris Miles scored 6. Hirt had 5, Damian Cortez scored 4, Willard had 3 and Monte Taylor scored 2.
THIS WEEK—Rockdale faced Academy Tuesday evening after the deadline of this week’s Reporter.
On Friday, the Tigers host Florence for their first meeting of the year. The Buffaloes are 0-4 in district play and are coming off an 89-55 loss to Academy, a team currently ranked ninth in Class 3A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.
Tip-off at Tiger Gymnasium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
LADY TIGERS—In a game where coach Meredith Caffey described her team as playing three great quarters, the Lady Tigers lost 45-29 to Caldwell.
At the end of the first quarter, Rockdale trailed 8-7 and stayed close, only down by 5 at halftime.
Rockdale closed the gap in the third, but couldn’t hold Caldwell as they took over mid-way through the fourth. The Lady Hornets had an effective full-court press that helped turn their two-point lead into a double-digit win.
Julie Bartsch led the Lady Tigers with 13 points and Ciara Miles had 12.
LAST WEEK—Three days earlier, Rockdale got their first district win, beating Lexington at the RHS Gym 34-27.
THIS WEEK—Like the Tigers, the Lady Tigers head to Academy after press time.
On Friday, the girls get a chance at revenge when they host Florence. The Lady Buffs beat RHS in a 42-40 nail-biter on the road. Game time is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
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