COLDSPRING — Friday night on the hardwood proved to be a challenging test for the very young Coldspring Trojans, who entered the contest with a 2-18 record against a senior-heavy and highly experienced Navasota Rattlers squad boasting an impressive 14-3 mark.
From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the Trojans faced not only a talent gap but also a significant difference in size, experience, and physical maturity, which led to an 83-36 loss.
With just one senior on the roster and the remainder of the lineup made up of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, the Trojans continue to learn under a new coaching staff and a brand-new playbook. Competing against a Navasota team loaded with seniors proved difficult, but the Trojans continued to fight for all four quarters.
Coldspring managed just three points in the opening quarter but regrouped and settled into their rhythm as the game progressed. At halftime, the Trojans trailed 41-13 yet showed no signs of surrender. The second half reflected the team’s growing confidence, grit, and determination as they continued to compete against a well-seasoned Rattlers squad.
Decoriyon Barnes led the Trojans with 18 points, going 2-for-4 from the free-throw line. Keyon Washington contributed 6 points, while Brennen Lilley and Joel Houston each added 4 points.
The Lady Trojans downed Big Sandy 35-25 on Jan. 6. A score for Friday’s game against Crockett wasn’t immediately available.
Hampshire-Fannett visited Shepherd on Jan. 6 for a closely anticipated district matchup, with both teams entering the contest holding eight wins on the season.
Despite Hampshire’s extended football postseason contributing to a few additional losses, the two programs appeared evenly matched on paper. What followed was a physical, hard-fought battle on the hardwood that ended with a 75-60 loss for the Pirates.
Shepherd came out strong as Brayden White immediately established control in the paint, scoring nine unanswered points and setting the early tone for the Pirates. Hampshire-Fannett quickly adjusted, altering its defensive approach throughout the first half and cutting Shepherd’s advantage to just two points by halftime.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half. Following the opening inbound, Hampshire-Fannett committed to an aggressive defensive strategy, frequently double- and triple-teaming White under the basket. The adjustment effectively stalled Shepherd’s offensive rhythm and limited scoring opportunities. After holding a narrow 36-34 lead at the half, the Pirates were restricted to just seven points in the third quarter.
Head Coach Jeremy Bennett called multiple timeouts late in the third quarter in an effort to reconfigure the game plan, but Hampshire-Fannett had already created too much separation. Shepherd continued to battle, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, but Hampshire answered with 23 points of its own to secure the win.
Injuries once again proved costly for Shepherd, as several key contributors remained sidelined, forcing underclassmen into expanded roles during district play. Despite the challenges, the Pirates showed resilience until the final buzzer.
Brayden White led all scorers with an impressive 32 points, going 8-for-12 from the free-throw line. Benjamin Coyle added 11 points, shooting 1-for-2 at the line.
Then on Friday, Shepherd did a turnaround, downing Liberty 66-41.
White tallied another double-double, pouring in 13 points while pulling down 14 rebounds. Bryson Goodman led scoring with 16, and Coyle mirrored White’s point tally with 13.
On Jan. 6, the Lady Pirates edged out Hamshire-Fannett 27-26. On Friday, however, Shepherd lost to Liberty 44-35.
