Second half show clears Causeway for Tors
It’s safe to say the Causeway has not been so kind to the Cougars. For the second time in as many attempts, La Marque have fallen to nearby arch rival Galveston Ball Tornados 61-51 on Saturday night at Hofheinz Pavilion. The highly intense battle assured the Tors of the District 24-4A Championship in front of 7,000 screaming fans.
The Tors (27-3, 9-1) overcame the first half, facing a ball hawking man to man La Marque defense that forced turnovers while keeping them off the boards.
Mike Evans knocked down two free throws and a bank shot by Dedrick Archie gave the Tors a 4-0 lead that didn’t last long as the Cougars charged back, answering with baskets from Quevin Cams and Dequentin Greer to knot the game at 4. Later in the quarter La Marque led 15-9 when Julien Lewis sank a couple of free throws to go along with four coming from Emmanuel Williams and Greer stretching the score, 19-9 to close out the first quarter.
The Cougars half court pressure defense allowed them to build a cushion going into the second quarter.
Evans stopped an 11-0 Cougar run with a beautiful two handed dunk that brought the Galveston Ball faithful to its feet, down 21-9.
La Marque continued to press as Lewis knocked down a trey from the top of the key to push the score24-11. Soon after Greer added a layup for the Cougars, 28-14. But the Tornados answered back, avoiding a deep hole with an 8-0 run that included two layups one each from Petteway and Evans, Greg Hopkins scored on an offensive rebound and Petteway finished the run with a midrange jumper to close within five, 28-23.
Just when Galveston Ball appeared to close in on the lead the Cougars responded with two close range shots from Greer and Brian Allen as Lewis converted two free throws putting the Tors back on the ropes 34-23.
Petteway nailed a trey to move the Tors within 8, 34-26 but Darren Provost-Johnson drained a trey from the left baseline to give the Cougars a 37-26 halftime advantage.
Galveston Ball’s Cory Laday toss a shot beyond the half court mark which hit nothing but net at the buzzer but the referees waived it off, saying It didn’t leave his hands in time.
In the third quarter things began to take turn in the Tors favor. With a head of steam entering the court in the second half, defense shifted into to gear. Tors converted turnovers into points coupled with offensive rebounds.
Petteways offensive rebound pulled Galveston Ball within four points, 42-38.
There were moments when La Marque seemed like they would break the game open but was unable to keep the Tors out of the passing lanes and off the boards.
In a turn of events, Petteway threw down a monster dunk to bring the Galveston Ball fans to their feet. Right after Lewis tried to return the favor with a dunk that rimmed out with the Tors taking possession and closing in on the lead, 48-45.
Laday made good on one of two free throws to close out the quarter with Galveston Ball down 48-46.
Laday tied the game at 48 on a layup.
Lewis continued his bad shooting night missing his last three shots.
Dietrich Johnson nailed a 3-pointer giving the Tors their first lead since the start of the game, now up 51-48 with 6:20 to go. During that span of time the Cougars scored only one point which was Cams free throw.
Johnson added a one handed shot in the lane, increasing the deficit 53-49.
With 4:03 to go the Cougars trailed 53-51 but could never get the momentum back on their size
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