Bobcats sting Hornets to nab 3rd
Published 8:53 pm Friday, February 8, 2019
- Van Wade/Orange Leader Orangefield’s Cade Prejean (2) looks for an open teammate while on the move as Hardin’s Austin Potetz (4) defends Friday night at Bobcat Gym.
ORANGEFIELD – Clicking on all cylinders on offense from the opening tap to the final horn, the Orangefield Bobcats sealed the third-place playoff berth out of District 22-3A Friday night with a decisive 86-57 victory at Bobcat Gym.
The Bobcats (26-8, 9-4) placed five players in double figures to turn back the feisty Hornets (24-8, 7-6).
The Bobcats connected on 12 three-pointers on the night, including five in the first quarter as they opened up a 24-11 edge and never looked back.
Kaiden DuBose led the balanced Bobcat arsenal as he pumped in a game-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds.
Cade Prejean cut loose for four three-point bombs to finish with 16 points while collecting five boards.
Post Valentin Catt chimed in with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots. Coy Bryant fired in 11 points and hit three three-pointers while Logan Risinger popped for 10 points, while sinking a pair of treys.
Colby Gonzales and Clayson Choate added five rebounds apiece for the Bobcats.
Davin Morgan paced the Hornet offense with 15 points as he buried three three-pointers. Matthew Tidwell had 13 points and hit two treys. Dylan Balch finished with eight points while Tyler Parker had six rebounds and Trace Tinkle grabbed five boards.
Risinger got the Bobcats going early, scoring all 10 of his points in the first period, including two threes. Bryant had a pair of treys in the quarter as well while DuBose motored for seven points in the first eight minutes.
Orangefield outscored the Hornets 19-13 in the second quarter to go up 43-24 at intermission, thanks to a pair of three-point bombs by Prejean.
The Bobcats extended their cushion to 62-38 by the end of the third quarter with Catt leading the way with six points in the period.
The Bobcats finished with a 36-27 rebounding edge. Orangefield committed just eight turnovers while the Hornets coughed it up 17 times.
Hardin finished 23-of-35 from the free-throw line while the Bobcats were just 16-of-35.
The Bobcats will wrap up the regular season on the road at Kirbyville Tuesday before entering postseason play.
