Livingston basketball led for most of Monday’s contest with Orangefield, pulling away in the fourth quarter for an 83-65 victory in Lion Gym.
Four Lions scored in double digits, as the Livingston offense kept the pressure on. A two-point game by the end of the opening period, the Lions pushed their lead to nine at half by scoring 24 in the second. The Bobcats would close that gap some after the break, but a 25-11 fourth was much of the difference.
Ziekus Garner led the team with 28 points. He also found several teammates in green for easy assists once the defense began to collapse on the junior guard.
“That is the thing I really love about this team,” first-time head coach Sean Berry said of his Lions. “If you guard one, the others are going to step up. I am real proud of them today; they fought hard.”
Cory Dirden also had 19 points, T.J. Garner 15 and Evan Schmidt 12 for Livingston. The team was unselfish with the ball and made a point of getting to the bucket. A few sloppy passes and free throws were the only negatives of the early-season match. The home team was 3-of-8 from the charity stripe in the first half, but improved in the second half at 7-of-11.
The Lions normally take a bit to get into the game, but the coach said he liked the way the team started Monday.
“We got out and we got ahead,” Berry said. “We were pushing and pressing, and I told the guys that this team is going to be very similar to Kountze. I think that clicked for them almost right away. I don't think (the Bobcats) are as good of shooters as Kountze is or as fast, but they are a similar mold. What stood out for me is that we started fast and jumped out all over them and didn't quit. We kept hammering and we were behind for three or four seconds.”
Berry also said that there was an emphasis on not allowing Orangefield to set up their zone defense.
“If they score or we get a rebound, we've got to get down the court fast. We had to be patient because stuff was going to open up. They have no big men or anybody that can guard a big man. There were times where Cory or Ziekus would dump it into Evan and cut right off of them. Evan got it right back and it would be a beautiful play. It is what I've been wanting them to do all year. Now, it is starting to kind of click for them and we're getting it rolling.”
The Lions are now 3-1 and traveled to Franklin Tuesday. On Saturday, they host Montgomery Lake Creek.
