Basketball season a slam dunk: 2 county basketball teams end post-season play last week

by By Michelle Dillon Staff Writer
Photo by Shannon Capps
Troup’s Weslee Ross (#3) looks to pass the ball during the 3A Region II Area round playoff against the Commerce Tigers at Lindale High School Thursday, Feb. 21. Photo by Shannon Capps
Troup’s Weslee Ross (#3) looks to pass the ball during the 3A Region II Area round playoff against the Commerce Tigers at Lindale High School Thursday, Feb. 21.

The Troup Tigers advanced to 3A Region II Area round play after defeating Hughes Springs to become bi-district champions. The Area level match took place at Lindale High School Thursday, Feb. 21, with the Commerce Tigers knocking Troup out of the playoffs in a close shoot-out.

Troup allowed a mere two-point lead for Commerce at the end of the first quarter, 10-8, but were on the short end of a four-point deficit in the second, resulting in a 27-21 halftime lead for the Commerce Tigers. Fighting back in the third period, Troup outscored Commerce by two, 13-11, to reduce the gap and the quarter ended with a 38-34 Commerce advantage. The final frame ended in a single point edge for Commerce, insuring their 53-48 victory.

Quincy Kincade was high scorer for Troup with 17 points, 15 coming from three-point shots. Weslee Ross and Kedrick Frazier each dropped in 10 points, including a pair of treys for each. Kris Johnson sank eight points. Grayson Driggs added two points and Desmon Deason, one.

“Commerce is a very solid team, and they deserved to be ranked in the top 10,” head coach Darin Harley commented. “But our players went “toe to toe” with them and never backed down. We had our chances in the fourth quarter, but some of the looks did not fall. We had a very successful season, especially replacing eight seniors from last year’s 32-5 team. We have built something here and our players and community have bought in. We will continue enhancing our culture.”

New Summerfield

The New Summerfield Hornets traveled to Whitehouse High School to take on the Tenaha Tigers in the 2A Region III bi-district meet. The Hornets fell to the Tigers, 64-40, ending their season.

New Summerfield allowed the Tigers a mere two-point lead, 10-8, in the first period, but struggled during the second quarter. With an 18-6 margin, Tenaha expanded the lead to 28-14 at halftime. Though the Hornets were able to hold them to a four-point difference in the third frame, the gap widened to 44-26. Obtaining a 20-14 point margin over New Summerfield in the final quarter, Tenaha secured the win, 64-40.