SHEPHERD — When two highly skilled basketball teams face off for their first district game of the year, a tie is not an option.
On Dec. 17, it took two overtimes to decide the Tarkington-Shepherd winner, which ended with a 63-59 Pirate loss.
Despite entering the game as underdogs, Shepherd quickly proved they were up to the challenge by matching the Longhorns’ energy and skill through nearly six quarters of basketball.
However, in the final overtime, a well-executed 3-point Tarkington shot turned the tide and sent the “W” back with the Longhorns.
For the Pirates, Darrian Matthews contributed 9 points, while Braydon Mettlen added 10 points and went 2-for-3 at the free-throw line. The standout performer for Shepherd was Brayden White, who dominated under the basket with 24 points and an impressive 10-for-12 performance at the free-throw line.
Girls
The Lady Longhorns faced off against the Shepherd Lady Pirates in a game marked by close competition until the final quarter, handing Shepherd a 42-28 loss
Scoring across the quarters revealed a consistent battle, with the Lady Pirates putting up 8, 8, 10, and 2 points, while the Lady Longhorns responded with 9, 12, 10, and 11 points.
The Lady Pirates managed to stay competitive throughout the first three quarters, keeping the game within reach. However, the final quarter proved decisive. While the Lady Longhorns surged with an 11-point performance, the Lady Pirates struggled to maintain their scoring momentum, managing only a single layup for 2 points.
For the Lady Pirates, Aliyah Thomas led the scoring effort with 14 points, including 2 successful free throws out of 4 attempts. Jazilyn Richardson contributed 7 points, while Kiona King added a single 3-point shot. Addison Kowis rounded out the scoring with a 2-point shot in the second quarter.
Coldspring
The Lady Trojans overcame the Groveton Indians 49-27 on Dec. 17.
