The Bastrop Advertiser » Boys basketball

Bastrop’s Thorne, Elgin’s Haywood selected for all-star game

Michael Adams — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:57:17 +0000

Looks like basketball season is not over yet for a pair of Bastrop County players.

Bastrop senior center John Thorne and Elgin senior guard Tracy Haywood have been selected to participate in the inaugural Central Texas Coaches All-Star Game.

The pair join a group of 28 other Central Texas stand-outs for the game, which will be played April 28 at Connally High School. Just like in district competition, the pair will be squaring off on opposite sides during the game.

Thorne will play for the South team, which includes players from Bowie, Rockdale, Lanier, Westlake, Lake Travis, Anderson, Hays, McCallum, LBJ and San Marcos. Haywood earned a spot on the north team, featuring with players from Round Rock, Hutto, Manor, Liberty Hill, Burnet, Stony Point, Leander, Cedar Park and Connally.

Thorne was named the Bastrop County Player of the Year for the 2011-2012 season, averaging 10.1 points and 13.5 rebounds per game and providing an intimidating defensive presence in the lane. Haywood averaged 9.5 points and 2.3 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Basketball: Tuesday’s playoff schedule (w/ directions)

Michael Adams — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:54:53 +0000

CLASS 4A, REGION II

Bastrop (23-15) vs. Lancaster (16-9), 7 p.m. Tuesday at Madisonville High School, Madisonville

Elgin (26-5) vs. West Mesquite (25-7) 7 p.m., Tuesday at Waco High School, Waco

CLASS 3A, REGION III

Smithville (19-10) vs. Stafford (16-14) 7 p.m, Tuesday at Bellville High School, Bellville

Adams: Credit Bastrop’s student section with an assist in win

Michael Adams — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:31:24 +0000

I got a tweet Friday during Bastrop and Rudder’s District 16-4A playoff in Rockdale.
An industry peer tweeted about a school in San Antonio bringing a dance team, band and cheerleaders to a girls basketball playoff game.
How cool is that?
That my friends, is how the atmosphere at a high school basketball game should be.
Back east, where I spent most of my childhood and five years in college, that type of atmosphere, mixed with Bastrop’s student section, is the daily ambiance for high school basketball.
I’ll get to Bastrop’s student section in a minute, but in Ohio and West Virginia, where high school basketball is as big a draw as high school football is in Texas, it was rare to not see cheerleaders on the baseline, a pep band in the stands and a dance team right beside them.
I don’t’ understand why that hasn’t caught on in Texas.
Back to Bastrop’s student section.
Bastrop, you should be proud of you student section. It’s the best, and most entertaining, in District 16-4A. It is also one of the reasons the Bears are going to the playoffs.
Rudder star Will Martin has the ability to beat any team by himself.
If you don’t believe me, just ask Elgin.
He put up 44 points in a win over the Wildcats in the regular season finale.
On Friday during Bastrop’s district playoff, Bastrop’s student section got in his head.
Martin scored eight of his game-high 29 points in the first quarter.
On a shot attempt late in the period, Martin put up an air ball.
From that point on, every time Rudder’s hot shot touched the ball, Bastrop’s fans let him know about it by chanting “air ball.”
Mentally, it took Martin out of the game for a while because he only took two shots in the second quarter and scored two points as the Bears led 25-23 at halftime.
The significance of that is that Martin was the only Rudder player to score in double digits and more than eight points the entire game.
Before the air ball, Martin was on fire and came to play, but Bastrop fans got in his head and shut him down, even if it was through two quarters. (Martin had 13 in the fourth quarter).
A good student section also plays part in the energy of the team they support.
After the incident during the game with Elgin on Dec. 20, Bastrop’s student section has brought a lot of great energy to Bear Gym and wherever they travel.
Bastrop games are so much fun thanks in part to an energetic student section that creates one of the best high school basketball atmospheres I’ve seen in a long time.
And it’s pretty apparent that the team feeds off that energy.
There are occasions where I see cheerleaders in the stands and the dance team has performed at Bastrop games.
Think of the atmosphere Bastrop could create with is student section, cheerleaders, dance team and a pep band, and possibly a person to play music during timeouts, pregame, team introductions and in between quarters.
I would argue that it would be hard to find a better atmosphere with all those elements.
First-year head coach Tim Davis did a great job this year putting together a team that lost a lot of talent and taking them back to the playoffs.
Bastrop will need its fans Tuesday during its playoff game as the Bears take on tradition-rich Lancaster (16-9). The Tigers will be probably the most athletic team Bastrop has seen all year outside of Elgin.
The Bears will need their student section Tuesday in Waco. They will also need fans to travel, cheerleaders and the dance team.
That atmosphere makes all the difference sometimes.

Basketball: Bastrop is headed to postseason

Michael Adams — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:29:45 +0000

ROCKDALE – Not even Will Martin could stop the train that was the Bastrop Bears from reaching their destiny Friday.
Despite Martin’s game-high 29 points, Bastrop defeated Rudder 63-53 at Rockdale High School in a District 16-4A playoff for the final playoff spot.
The Bears (23-15) will move on to play District 15-4A champion Lancaster (16-9) in the bi-district round of the Region II-4A boys basketball playoffs while Rudder (21-13) will put up the basketballs for the season.
“That was a heck of a win,” said Bastrop assistant coach Jason Woodall. “That was about as solid of a game we have played all season.”
Chris Young and Martin traded shots in a game of one-upmanship in the first quarter.
Young got Bastrop out to a 4-0 lead, but Martin responded with back-to-back threes.
Young again quickly responded with a three of his own, but Martin scored his eighth point of the game shortly thereafter to give Rudder a 10-7 advantage.
However, after Martin and Young quit trading blows, Cameron Williams heated up, scoring seven straight points in the final minute of the quarter to give Bastrop a 14-10 lead at the end of the period.
On Martin’s final attempt of the first quarter, the senior guard shot an air ball and after that Bastrop’s fans let him know it every time he touched the ball.
The heckling must have gotten into his head because Martin only had two attempts in the second quarter and finished the first half with 10 points, scoring only two in the second.
This after he put up 44 points in a win over Elgin Tuesday.
However, the Rangers retook the lead after a three from Justin Johnson and a bucket from Trey Hines early in the second quarter.
However, Young completed a three-point play to retake the lead for the Bears and Bastrop never gave it up again.
Williams pushed Bastrop’s lead to five points with his second three of the game with 5:07 left in the half.
Both teams traded blows and the Rangers tied the game again late in the quarter on a field goal from Martin.
Bastrop then rebuilt its lead on field goals from Young and John Thorne to take a 25-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Young had 12 points to lead all scorers in the first while Williams had 10.
Bastrop extended its lead again and took a six point lead on a three from Dontray Kinsey after a pair of field goals from Young to open the third quarter.
Martin got back in the game mentally and pulled the Rangers to within two midway through the third quarter.
But Rudder couldn’t stop the Bastrop machine as Williams started a 9-2 run that went on until the end of the quarter to give the Bears a six-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
That’s when an up-and-down free-throw shooting Bastrop team decided to have one of its best performances from the charity stripe.
The Bears went 15 of 23 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter as Stephen Moore was clutch, going 7 of 8, to seal up a 10-point victory for Bastrop.
“Our free-throw shooting was clutch,” Woodall said. “We’ve had a lot of games come down to free throws and you have to hand it to Stephen, he made them count.”
Bastrop also controlled the boards by outrebounding Rudder 31-22 with Thorne pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds. Williams had seven.
Bastrop’s playoff game with Lancaster is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Madisonville High School in Madisonville.

Bastrop 63, Rudder 53
Rudder 10 13 12 18 - 53
Bastrop 14 11 16 22 - 63
Bastrop (23-15): Chris Young 22, Cameron Williams 14, John Thorne 9, Aaron Clemons 8, Stephen Moore 7.
Rudder (21-13): Will Martin 29, A’Shanian Smith 8, Justin Johnson 6, Trey Hines 4, Jonas Suber 3, Kody Burton 3.

Basketball: Tigers wrapup No. 2 seed in 23-3A

Special to the Advertiser — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:55:59 +0000

The Smithville Tigers wrapped up the District 23-3A second seed for the second straight year by defeating the Rockdale Tigers 63-56, Friday night in front of a packed house at Giddings High School.

After Joe Crank and Peter Marek dominated Rockdale in their last meeting Tuesday night, the Tigers’ game plan was to make sure those two wouldn’t take over this game.

The plan worked…for a half.

Marek’s three huge three-pointers in the third quarter squashed a second half surge by Rockdale and Crank’s defense picked up in the second half to help propel Smithville to victory.

After a slow start by both teams, Smithville was able to start pulling ahead due to some inspired play by the bench.

Cearan Adkins’ defense and two clutch three’s from Logan Kubicek sparked a rally that was capped off by Khalil McCathern’s steal and subsequent monster dunk to push the first half lead to 8. McCathern finished the game with 8 points.

Smithville’s six-point halftime lead was cut to two early in the 3rd quarter before Peter Marek found some openings.

A double screen set play started his scoring and a rare pull up three from Marek drove a dagger in Rockdale’s comeback. Marek would end the game with 12 points on 4 of 7 shooting.

Smithville was able to push their lead to double digits on several occasions in the second half but Rockdale’s super freshman Wendell Mitchell kept things close with his three-point barrage.

Mitchell would finish with a game high 24 points for Rockdale.

Big shots by Oscar Kennebrew, Marek, and Kubicek’s two large free throws after a Rockdale technical foul kept the Tigers’ from getting any closer than five points.

Kennebrew led Smithville with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

What would sometimes be considered an unfair stat actually aided Smithville at the end of the game as the Tigers were called for eight fouls in the second half compared to Rockdale’s one.

The fact that Smithville was never in the bonus actually allowed them to take more time off the clock at the end of the game while Rockdale tried to foul.

Other scorers for the Tigers were Kubicek (9), Cody Hlavaty (7) and Crank with six points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

The win pushes Smithville’s season record to 19-10 and 8-3 in district play.

The Tigers will face the Stafford Spartans (16-14) in Bellville Tuesday night in a the bi-district round of the Region III-3A playoffs.

- Robbie Brown, Special to the Advertiser

Basketball: Rudder’s Martin scores 44 in 69-66 upset of Elgin (roundup)

Michael Adams — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:42:13 +0000

BRYAN – Will Martin did his best Jeremy Lin impression Tuesday as the Bryan-Rudder guard put up 44 points to lead the Rangers past Elgin 69-66 in Bryan.
More importantly, the win kept Rudder’s postseason hopes alive.
Adversely, the loss meant Elgin (26-5, 13-3) had to wait for the result from the Connally-Manor game to see if they got a share of the district title.
When the news came in that Connally had defeated Manor, the Wildcats split the District 16-4A championship with the Mustangs.
Rudder built a 10-point lead at halftime behind 21 first-half points from Martin.
Elgin attempted a comeback and outscored the Rangers 41-34, but Martin was just unstoppable with much more on the line as they needed to win to stay alive.
Trey Nash led Elgin with 27 points while Bradly McDonald had 12.
Those were the only players to score in double digits for the Wildcats as Rudder kept guard Tracy Haywood to just two points.
Other scorers for Elgin were Da’Trean Simmons (9), Troy Nash (7), Matt Valdez (4), Abel Zapata (3) and Te’Rel Simmons (2).
Elgin lost a coin flip to determine the No. 1 seed out of District 16-4A and will take on West Mesquite Tuesday at Waco High School in the bi-district round of the Class 4A playoffs. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Smithville comes to play, forces tiebreaker
SMITHVILLE – Joe Crank put up 18 points as the Smithville Tigers handled Rockdale and picked up a 67-49 win at Tiger Gym.
The win forces a tiebreaker with Rockdale for the No. 2 seed out of District 23-3A. That game will be played Friday at Giddings and is scheduled for 7 p.m.
It wasn’t that easy for Smithville as both teams went into the locker room at halftime deadlocked at 27.
The Tigers stormed out in the second half and took a 12-point lead into the fourth quarter where they outscored Rockdale 16-10.
Other scorers for Smithville were Oscar Kenebrew (12), Peter Marek (14), Logan Kubicek (2), Cerean Adkins (7), Cody Hlvaty (4), Khalil McCathern (8) and Davion Gentry (2).

Cedar Creek finishes season winless in 16-4A
CEDAR CREEK – Hutto built a 18-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back, defeating Cedar Creek 77-46 Tuesday in both teams’ season finale.
The loss left the Eagles without a win in District 16-4A play and a 5-30 record for their first varsity season.
Cedar Creek tried to fight back and cut Hutto’s lead to 12 points at halftime.
However, the Hippos outscored the Eagles 24-10 in the third quarter to take a 26-point lead into the final period.
Zach Daniel led Cedar Creek with 17 points and was the only Eagle to score in double digits.
Other scorers for Cedar Creek were Jose Vasquez (6), Jose Cantu (3), Michael Vallejo (3), Josh Castor (3), Ronnie Hatlett (3) and Kyle Spencer (3).

Boys basketball: Updated playoff schedule

Michael Adams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:53:59 +0000

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

District playoffs

Friday
Smithville vs. Rockdale, 7 p.m. at Giddings High School
(To determine No. 2 seed out of 23-3A)

Bastrop vs. Rudder, 7 p.m. at Rockdale High School
(To determine No. 4 seed out of 16-4A)

Class 4A Bi-District Playoffs
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Elgin vs. West Mesquite, 7 p.m. at Waco High School*

*tentatively

Tuesday’s area scoreboard

Michael Adams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:49:12 +0000

BOYS BASKETBALL
Rudder 69, Elgin 66
Elgin 14 11 23 18 - 66
Rudder 22 13 20 14 - 69
Elgin (26-5, 13-3): Trey Nash 27, Bradly McDonald 12, Da’Trean Simmons 9, Troy Nash 7, Matt Valdez 4, Abel Zapata 3, Te’Rel Simmons 2, Tracy Haywood 2
Rudder (20-12, 9-6): Will Martin 44, A’Shanian Smith 6, Justin Johnson 5, Jonathan Shirley 5, Demarshon Wilson 4, Jonas Suber 3, Shivon Wesley 2

Smithville 67, Rockdael 49
Smithville 16 11 24 16 - 67
Rockdale 11 16 12 10 - 49
Smithville (19-10, 7-3): Cerean Adkins 7, Cody Hlavaty 4, Khalil McCathern 8, Logan Kubicek 2, Peter Marek 14, Davion Gentry 2, Oscar Kenebrew 12, Joe Carnk 18
Rockdale (20-10, 7-3): Mitchell 12, Garza 10, Skubal 9, Ford 3, Dean 5, David 6, Loth 4

Hutto 77, Cedar Creek 46
Hutto 23 12 24 18 - 77
Cedar Creek 5 18 10 13 - 46
Hutto (16-16, 7-9): Bellinger 23, Monyer 16, Studdard 2, Orso 15, Henry 2, Gleghorn 6, Overton 7, Rogers 2, Shamba 2
Cedar Creek (5-30, 0-16): Jose Vasquez 6, Jose Cantu 3, Michael Vallejo 3, Josh Castor 3, Ronnie Hattlet 3, Kyle Spencer 3, Zach Daniel 17

SOFTBALL
Bastrop 11, Salado 8
Salado 040 100 3 - 8 10 0
Bastrop 101 102 6 - 11 11 4
WP: Lillian Raemsch
Highlights: B: Gisella Paranich 2 hits, Tori Spakes 1 hit, Rachel West 1 hit, Lillian Raemsch 2 hits, 1 2B, Maddie Parker 3 hits, Emily Tarango 2 hits, 1 3B
Records: Bastrop 1-0

Elgin 13, Belton 0
Elgin 000 500 8 - 13 14 1
Belton 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
WP: Jenna Wing (1-0)
LP: Alex
Highlights: E: Shelbi Swenson 2 RBIs, Adrianna Hernandez 2-4, RBI
Record: Elgin 1-0

BOYS SOCCER
Cedar Creek 4, Giddings 0
Cedar Creek 3 1 - 4
Giddings 0 0 - 0
Goals: Vicente Salazar (2), Kenny Wells, Ricky Sanchez
Assists: Jose Ortiz (2), Salazar, Wells

GIRLS SOCCER
Giddings 3, Cedar Creek 0
Giddings 2 1 - 3
Cedar Creek 0 0 - 0
Goals: none
Assists: none

Boys baskedtball: After season finale, 16-4A playoff picture still undecided

Michael Adams — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:43:27 +0000

The Bastrop Bears defeated Hendrickson 63-62 Tuesday and would have not had to worry about whether they got in or not had Rudder lost to Elgin.

However, the Rangers upset Elgin to force a district playoff with the Bears for the final playoff spot out of District 16-4A.

Elgin’s loss, accompanied with a Manor loss to Connally, split the district championship between the Wildcats and Mustangs.

Bastrop and Rudder will play Friday at a time and location to be determined.

All playoff schedules will be updated at bastropadvertiser.com as they are confirmed.

Basketball: Bastrop tops Hutto, inches closer to postseason

Michael Adams — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:48:36 +0000

Bastrop head coach Tim Davis said his team was fully aware of the weight of Friday’s game before they stepped on the court.

The Bears answered the call, defeating Hutto 56-42 at Bear Gym to keep their playoff hopes alive and clinch no worse than a playoff for the final spot from District 16-4A in the postseason.

In front of a lively crowd, Bastrop used a 13-0 run to close the first quarter to take a 10-point advantage.

Shawn Lemon got things started with a three-pointer, followed by one from Aaron Clemons.

Cameron Williams added three points and Lemon hit the final shot of the quarter to give Bastrop a comfortable 15-5 lead going into the second.

The Bears (21-5, 9-6 District 16-4A) continued to pour it on, but not after a bucket by Tevin Bellinger to start the second quarter.

The Bears then went on a 13-4 run that culminated with Stephen Moore draining a three late in the period to put Bastrop up by 18 points.

Bastrop led by 17 at halftime, keeping Bellinger, who scored 29 points against Bastrop in the teams’ first meeting.

“They played hard, but more importantly they played well,” Davis said. “In a game like this you can do one of two things. You can either come out scared or come out and played juiced up and play well.”

Bastrop cooled off in the third quarter as Hutto (15-16, 6-9) got as close as 12 points aftter going on a 9-4 run to open the quarter.

A.J. Lopez, who scored a game-high 16 points, pulled Hutto to within 13 points with a three late in the third quarter.

Bastrop had just four field goals in the third, but still carried a 17-point lead into the final period after a bucket by John Thorne, who was just getting started.

Thorne scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half as the senior completed a double double with 10 rebounds.

Every time Hutto would inch closer, Bastrop would hit a huge shot.

Clemons hit the back end of a pair of free throws from a technical foul on Hutto’s Nick Ramadan, which happened to be the Hippos second technical foul of the game.

The Hippos were charged a technical foul before tipoff for dunking during pregame warm ups.

Clemons’ free throw was the start of a string of four points from the senior guard.

But it was Thorne who kept Hutto completely out of this game as the Hippos could do nothing to stop him.

Thorne culminated his game with a poster dunk late in the fourth quarter as Bastrop moved closer to the postseason.

After the game, Thorne was all smiles.

“I’ve been wanting one (a dunk) all year,” he said. “We need to keep up this energy. The playoffs would be big for this team just to show we can do it now that Josiah (Monroe) and Jordan (Roach) are gone. Plus, with the fires and everything that happened, it’s a good way to give back to our community and give them something they can be proud of.”

With Connally’s win over Rudder Friday, Bastrop is now tied with the Rangers for the final playoff spot in District 16-4A.

The Bears could get in with a win over Hendrickson Tuesday and a Rudder loss to district-leading Elgin in Bryan.

However, if Connally loses to Manor in Manor Tuesday, the Bears could still get in with a win over Hendrickson.

Should Rudder upset Elgin and Bastrop beats Hendrickson, the Bears and Rangers would have a one-game playoff to determine the final playoff spot, should Connally beat Manor.

Bastrop takes on Hendrickson Tuesday in Pflugerville. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Bastrop 56, Hutto 42
Hutto 5 10 12 15 - 42
Bastrop 15 17 12 12 - 56
Bastrop (21-15, 9-6): John Thorne 14, Aaron Clemons 11, Shawn Lemon 10, Cameron Williams 9, Stephen Moore 5, Kalem Evans 5, Chris Young 2.
Hutto (15, 16, 6-9): A.J. Lopez 16, Tevin Bellinger 10, James Studdard 3, Nick Ramadan 3, Richard Monyer 2, Edawrd Orso 2, Deshawn Henry 2, Chase Gleghorn 2, Marcus Monyer 2

Bastrop’s Stephen Moore looks to call the offensive play Friday during a basketball game with Hutto at Bear Gym. Bastrop defeated the Hippos 56-42 to inch closer to the playoffs. (Michael Adams/ The Bastrop Advertiser)