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11-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Eagles surge past Naaman Forest to stay on Lakeview's heels
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
After watching its undefeated girls basketball team get knocked off by Naaman Forest on Tuesday, the Rowlett boys were given a direct reminder they needed to be ready to play.
It took the Eagles a while to get going, but they eventually pulled away for a 54-46 victory over the Rangers.
Rowlett clinches a playoff berth and improves to 8-1 in 11-5A, as they stay a game off the red-hot pace of undefeated Lakeview, who is now 9-0 after thrashing North Garland, 90-53.
Rowlett started to assert itself as the game progressed, opening a five-point lead at the end of three quarters and then holding on until the end.
Jeffrey Carroll, the district's leading scorer, was held to single digits for one of the rare times this season, but teammates Nathan Hawkins and Kanard Robinson stepped up with 21 and 13 points, respectively.
Donyata Carter had 16 points and Jonathan Basco added 15 for the Rangers, who slipped to 5-4 but are still in third place in 11-5A, just a half-game ahead of Sachse (4-4).
The Mustangs were idle on Tuesday, but still saw their lead on fourth place swell to a full two games thanks to South Garland's win over Garland.
The race for the final two playoff berths can either get very interesting or they might all but come to an end on Friday as Sachse plays at South Garland and Naaman Forest hosts Garland.
The Mustangs and Rangers will then meet on Tuesday in a game that could have third place on the line.
The marquee match-up of the second half of 11-5A play is on Tuesday when Rowlett hosts Lakeview in a battle for first place. The Patriots have a bye on Friday to get rested and ready while the Eagles cannot get caught napping against North Garland.
FRIDAY
During the course of a couple of hours on Friday, Sachse's playoff outlook got a lot brighter.
The Mustangs entered the night with a precarious half-game lead over Garland, but thanks to an impressive 74-61 victory over the Owls, they suddenly find themselves in good position to clinch the fourth and final postseason spot from 11-5A.
The Mustangs certainly treated the game like a must-win. They exploded out of the gates with 25 points in the opening quarter and stretched their advantage to 44-25 by halftime.
The Owls made a strong charge in the third quarter to get back to within single digits, but Sachse regained control in the fourth to hold on for the win.
A.J. Goss had 22 points to lead the Mustangs, while Michael Olivares added 16. Garland was led by V.J. Gates with 16 points and Brian Redic with 13.
Rowlett got a scare from South Garland on Friday but was able to survive with a 69-66 victory.
The Colonels gave Rowlett all they wanted. After the Eagles grabbed a six-point lead after one quarter, South Garland came back to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.
Rowlett appeared to have taken control when it outscored the Colonels 27-14 in the third quarter to take a 12-point advantage. But South Garland was not done, as it closed the gap in the fourth only to fall three points short.
STANDINGS
x-Lakeview 9-0 25-5
x-Rowlett 8-1 21-3
Naaman Forest 5-4 10-18
Sachse 4-4 12-13
Garland 2-6 10-17
South Garland 2-7 7-16
North Garland 0-8 5-17
x-clinched playoff berth
Tuesday's Results
Rowlett 54, Naaman Forest 46
Lakeview 90, North Garland 53
South Garland 76, Garland 70
Sachse, bye
Friday's Results
Rowlett 69, South Garland 64
Sachse 74, Garland 61
Lakeview 68, Naaman Forest 38
North Garland, bye
Friday's Games
Rowlett at North Garland
Sachse at South Garland
Garland at Naaman Forest
Lakeview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Lakeview at Rowlett
Naaman Forest at Sachse
North Garland at Garland
South Garland, bye
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