Tiger players and fans celebrated in the Lexington High School Gymnasium Friday evening following the Blue-and-Gold’s first district win over the Eagles, 68-64.
Head coach Marcus McNeil was also excited, but was focused on moving on to the next one.
“It feels good, but I keep it in perspective from the standpoint of our goals moving forward,” the first year RHS coach said. “We’re going to enjoy it, but we still have tons and tons of work to do.
“It was an overall great effort with better consistency.”
Things looked bleak in the beginning when Lexington got ahead early in the first, nearly doubling the Tigers scoring with a 20-11 lead.
However, RHS refused to give up. They battled back with physical play from leading scorer Ross Loth and Christian Briggs who helped Rockdale get easy shots to bring the game within two, 30-28.
In the final minute of the half, forward Anthony Dans-by made a jumper to tie the game at 30.
LHS took the lead in the last seconds of the half after they put back a missed free throw to make the game 32-30.
Any momentum the mean green may have gained from the put back didn’t cross over into the next quarter.
With a couple of steals and shots from Loth, RHS took a 51-43 lead midway through the third and led 57-45 at the close of the quarter.
The game got close again as the Eagles started the fourth with an 8-0 run to bring the game within four.
RHS held on thanks to continued success from Loth in the post and a three from freshman Braden Thomas. They were able to get the win.
Loth led with 15 and Dansby had 10.
This was also the first varsity game for Thomas and his classmate Colten Bradshaw.
McNeil had a lot of compliments for them post-game.
“Thomas is a great shooter, team player and he hustles all the time,” McNeil said. “I told him when he got in there to shoot the ball and that’s what he did.
“Bradshaw’s also a great team player and great vocal leader that leads by example. I put full trust in their abilities and that’s why I put them out there.
“I liked being able to mix those guys in with some of the older cats that are coming back next year. Looking forward to a bright future with them.”
THIS WEEK–With a record of 1-6 in district play, the Tigers started the second half of district with with a homestand against McGregor on Tuesday after press time.
The 5-2 Bulldogs are a playoff favorite that beat the Tigers on their own court 100-68 on Friday, Jan. 3.
The Tigers have another tough one coming up when they head north to face Little River-Academy, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ ninth-ranked team in Class 3A who have won four of their district games by 20 or more points.
They have been hot since beating three top ten teams at the Tenaha Tournament over Christmas break.
“Our goal is to win these next seven games,” McNeil said. “I can’t promise you that it’s going to happen, but we’re going to give it everything we got.”
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
LADY TIGERS–Rock-dale’s girls came up short on Friday evening prior to the Tigers’ first win, losing 65-45.
RHS was down early, but made up a seven-point deficit to make the game 24-22 with three minutes left in the first half.
Lexington led 33-29 at halftime.
However, it was all LHS in the second half with the green-and-gold taking a 9-0 run early on.
The Lady Eagles beat Rockdale for the second time this season.
THIS WEEK–Rock-dale faced McGregor on Tuesday evening after press time.
They play next in Academy on Friday.
RHS lost to the Lady Bees 41-27 on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Rockdale.
Gametime is scheduled for 6:15 p.m.
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