Whether you call it the Battle on Highway 150, the Battle of San Jacinto County, or simply one of the best rivalry games of the season, when Coldspring and Shepherd meet on the hardwood, the atmosphere is always electric. December 16 was no exception.
A young and hungry Coldspring Trojan squad traveled to Shepherd to face a seasoned and disciplined Pirate team, and both communities packed the gym, filling each side with loud, passionate fans. The energy was felt from the opening tip.
Shepherd senior forward Bryson Goodman summed it up best: “The second half started with a very supportive crowd, and we wanted to do our best to fulfill their expectations.”
Brayden White echoed the sentiment: “The crowd was full of energy, and we wanted to make a great impression for Shepherd.”
The opening quarter lived up to the rivalry hype. Coldspring came out aggressive, matching Shepherd basket for basket. At the end of the first, only three points separated the teams, with Coldspring holding 16 and Shepherd edging ahead 19.
As the game moved into the second quarter, the Pirates’ experience and discipline began to show. Shepherd controlled the tempo, made key defensive stops, and stretched the lead going into halftime, 40–29. While the score favored Shepherd, the Trojans were very much still in the fight.
Coldspring continued to battle in the third quarter, cutting into the lead and keeping the pressure on. But Shepherd answered with poised execution, closing the third with a 55–46 advantage.
After the game, Shepherd Head Coach Jeremy Bennett credited the difference to composure and experience:
“Coldspring has a very good team, but the experience and discipline of our guys made the difference in the second half.”
The night carried extra significance for Coach Bennett, as the win marked the 300th victory of his career. In 17 years at Shepherd, Bennett has built a program defined by district titles, playoff runs, and a winning culture—making this milestone all the more meaningful.
And then there was Brayden White.
Known to Pirate fans as “Superman,” White delivered one of the most dominant performances the rivalry has ever seen. He accounted for more than 60 percent of Shepherd’s offense, finishing with an incredible 44 points and 23 rebounds, securing a massive double-double. White also added one block and three assists, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor.
Benjamin Coyle followed with 17 points, while Jeremy Bennett contributed 9.
Coldspring’s scoring was balanced across the lineup, led by Decoriyon Barns (15 points), Wendell Willis (11), and Deshawn McKinney (10), a strong showing from a young Trojan team that never backed down.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came after the final buzzer. After battling relentlessly under the basket all night, Barns and White stood side by side at center court and exchanged jerseys—a moment of respect that perfectly captured what high school sports are all about.
The final score read Shepherd 73, Coldspring 53, but make no mistake—both teams left everything they had on the hardwood. The Battle of San Jacinto County once again delivered a night of intensity, history, and sportsmanship that fans won’t soon forget.
On Friday, Shepherd ran into a well-prepared and motivated Tarkington Longhorns squad, as Tarkington controlled the tempo from start to finish in a first district matchup.
Tarkington wasted no time setting the tone, winning the opening tip and immediately knocking down a deep three-pointer. The Longhorns followed with an aggressive full-court push that kept constant pressure on Shepherd throughout the night. Despite an early timeout by Coach Bennett to settle the Pirates, Tarkington maintained control on both ends of the floor and steadily built a commanding lead.
Scoring by quarter for Shepherd was 16, 11, 10, and 9, totaling 46 points, while Tarkington posted 29, 20, 29, and 11 for an 89-point night. Brayden White led Shepherd with 14 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line, while Ben Coyle and Jeremy Bennett each added 8 points.
The Pirates showed flashes late, closing the gap slightly in the fourth quarter as Tarkington rotated in reserves, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
On Friday, the Trojans lost to Evadale 66-57.
