Top-ranked Tigers topple Bears
Published 9:03 pm Friday, February 5, 2016
LITTLE CYPRESS — The Silsbee Tigers once again proved why they are No. 1 in the Class 4A ranks in the State of Texas Friday night.
The Tigers went to The Bear Cave and jumped on Little Cypress-Mauriceville early as Silsbee went on to cruise to a 87-52 victory to improve to 10-0 in District 24-4A play and 23-5 on the season.
The Tigers got out on the Bears (4-5 in district) in the first quarter as they erupted on a 27-6 run and simply never looked back.
Trejan Harris tallied 10 of his 13 points in the first period to ignite the Tiger attack. Silsbee forced the Bears into 10 of their 28 turnovers in the first eight minutes.
The Bears actually outscored the Tigers 14-13 in the second quarter as LC-M senior Andrew Daspit found the hot hand. Daspit fired in nine of his team-high 18 points in the quarter as LC-M trailed 41-19 at intermission.
Silsbee’s Rick Maze found his shooting touch in the second half. After scoring five points in the first half, Maze erupted for 18 in the second half to finish with a game-high 23 points. He connected on six three-pointers to help the Tigers stretch their advantage to 66-35 at the end of the third quarter.
The Tigers won the fourth quarter 21-17. Maze had eight points for the Tigers in the quarter while Bear post Katon Brown scored six. Brown finished with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Guard Cameron Parker filtered in eight points for the Bears and hit two three-pointers while Daspit chimed in with six rebounds.
Forward Kalon Barnes had 10 points and a team-high six rebounds for the Tigers, who had all 10 players that played score while Dontre Thomas contributed eight points and five rebounds. Kolten Mackey added six points and five rebounds.
The Tigers finished with a 35-26 rebounding edge andSilsbee had just nine turnovers.
The Bears went 10-of-18 from the free-throw line while the Tigers were just 9-of-18.
LC-M will look to stay in the thick of the playoff chase with three games left. The Bears visit second-place Hardin-Jefferson Tuesday before going to WO-S Feb. 12 and hosting Orangefield Feb. 16.
