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Sadaidriene Hall draws the foul in Tuesday night’s Regional Quarter Final loss to Lancaster. Staff photo by Tyler Lennon
Trailed by 3 in fourth quarter
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats traveled to Rockwall Heath Tuesday to take on No. 1 Lancaster in the Regional Quarter Final round of the playoffs. The Wildcats made it to the Regional Quarter Finals by defeating Lufkin 78-55 in the Bi-District round, and beat Red Oak 61-38 in the Area round.
The game opened with both teams playing very tight defense, and neither team able to find much of an offense. Cameron Kahn was able to knock down a pair of shots in the frame, and Sadaidriene Hall made one free throw. The Wildcats trailed 11-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Grayson McClure sparked the Sulphur Springs offense early in the second quarter, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to bring the score to 14-11. Lancaster was forced to use a timeout to try to regather. A Lamodrick Johnson layup brought the Wildcats within just 1 point with 5:09 remaining in the half, but then Lancaster went on a run of their own, finishing out the half, outscoring Sulphur Springs, 10-5. During that run Hall was able to find Justin Haire for a basket and was able to score himself. The Wildcats entered the half, trailing 26-21.
Hall opened the second half by scoring on the opening possession, once again making it a one score game. Lancaster went on a quick 6-0, however, and Sulphur Springs needed a timeout to regroup. They trailed 32-23 with 4:39 left to play in the third quarter.
Out of the timeout, Boo Wilkerson was able to knock down a 3-pointer. McClure followed him on the next possession with his third 3-ball of the night, and Sulphur Springs was back within 3 points. Lancaster outscored the Wildcats 6-2 in the final minutes of the frame, and Sulphur Springs entered the fourth quarter down 38-31.
Johnson scored on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, and Kahn was able to find Hall for a layup to put the Wildcats back within in 3, at 38-35 with 5:06 left to play. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Wildcats would get. With Lancaster able to take care of the ball and hit their free throws, Lancaster walked away with the 44-38 win.
McClure was the leading scorer for the Wildcats, finishing with 9 points in the game. All of his points came via the 3-pointer. Hall and Johnson were right behind him with 8 points each. Other scorers for Sulphur Springs were Kahn, 6; Wilkerson, 5; and Haire, 2.
The Wildcats final record for the season is 27-9.