H.S. basketball: Abilene Cooper edges Lubbock Coronado boys for sole possession of 2nd
LUBBOCK – Jordan Willis scored a game-high 18 points as Cooper edged Lubbock Coronado 51-50 to take sole possession of second place in a District 4-5A boys basketball game Tuesday.
“The guys just found a way to get it done,” Cooper coach Bryan Conover said. “A lot of things didn’t go our way throughout the game, and we were able to just battle and come out with the win. Proud of all our guys for sticking together under tough circumstances.”
Jaelyn Rivera added 11 points and Kam Gray 10 as the Cougars (17-11 overall, 7-3 district) swept the district series from the Mustangs and clinched a playoff berth. Cooper beat Coronado 49-46 in Abilene.
Tyler Williams led Coronado (17-11, 6-4) with 14 points, and Cam Manahan followed with 13.
Cooper trailed 18-9 after the first quarter but stormed back forge a tie at 28 at halftime. The Coogs trailed with 1:30 left in the game, but Rivera ended up hitting a go-ahead 3-point goal with 3.6 seconds left.
Cooper can nail down the second seed with either a victory in one of its last two games or a Coronado loss. The Coogs play at Lubbock-Cooper on Friday, before hosting Abilene High on Tuesday.
The Mustangs play Lubbock Monterey on Friday at Coronado before going to last-place Lubbock High on Tuesday. Monterey (22-8, 10-0) has already sewn up the district title.
Hawley routs Haskell
At Haskell, Kason O'Shields and Teaghan Knight combined for 29 points as Hawley blasted Haskell 63-15 in a District 10-2A game.
O'Shields had a game-high 17 points, and Knight added 12 for the Bearcats (11-3, 9-1) who remained in sole possession of the district lead. They began play Tuesday leading both Cisco and Albany for the league title.
Eli Peacock and Brock Bridges led Haskell (5-15, 2-6) with four points each.
Hawley plays at Hamlin on Friday, while Haskell hosts Hamlin on Tuesday.
TLCA-Abilene fends off Gorillas
Tate Northcutt scored a game-high 14 points to lead TLCA-Abilene to a 34-30 victory over Trent for their first District 14-1A win.
Ladainian Boalts added eight, and Davin Cortez had six for the Eagles (4-21, 1-10).
Braxten Cathey led the Trent Gorillas (3-14, 1-8) with 12 points. Brayden Lewis had seven.
Northcutt scored all six of his team’s points in the fourth quarter as the Eagles won their first game since Dec. 3 against Moran.
TLCA-San Angelo turns away Coahoma
At Coahoma, Drew Sherrill and Jaidden Villanueva combined for 34 points to guide TLCA-San Angelo to a 61-54 victory over Coahoma in a District 6-3A game.
Sherrill led the Eagles (24-6, 10-2) with 18 points, and Villanueva had 16.
Ryan Shiflett led the Bulldogs (14-14, 4-8) with 19 points, and Billy Bailey had 13.
Coahoma is at home vs. San Angelo Grape Creek at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
GIRLS
Coronado ends Lady Coogs’ season
At Lubbock, Kya Smith poured in 36 points to lead Lubbock Coronado past Cooper 71-55 in a District 4-5A game.
Janna-leigh Cooper added 15 points as the Lady Mustangs (24-11, 8-4) ended the Lady Cougars’ playoff hopes and season.
The Cooper Lady Coogs (20-14, 4-8) needed a victory to force a play-in game with Lubbock High for the final playoff spot, since No. 1 and district champion Lubbock Monterey beat the Lady Westerners 89-30 on Tuesday.
Lubbock High (21-14, 5-7) is in the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and faces No. 8 Amarillo High in the first round.
No. 1 Glen Rose subdues Stephenville
At Stephenville, Aimee Flippin and Grace Booth combined for 30 points as No. 1 Glen Rose beat No. 9 Stephenville 45-23 to wrap up a perfect run through District 6-4A.
Flippin scored a game-high 18 points, and Booth followed with 12 for the Lady Tigers (34-1, 8-0).
Lillie Skiles led the Honeybees (29-4, 6-2) with seven points, while Brinly Hall and Mya Wilson had six each.
Stephenville will open the playoffs against Snyder (16-17) at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Jim Ned.
Gorman roughs up Bluff Dale
At Bluff Dale, Esmeralda Ervin lit up Bluff Dale for a game-high 22 points as No. 5 Gorman blasted the Lady Cats 75-21 in a District 19-1A game.
Kayla Falco added 15 points, and Emma Clark had 10 for the Lady Panthers (30-3, 10-2), who finished second behind No. 1 Huckabay.
Jessi Schuff led Bluff Dale (9-17, 2-10) with nine points.
Bulldoggettes end season with win
At Coahoma, Shae Lang scored a game-high 21 to spark Coahoma past TLCA-San Angelo 78-16 in a District 6-3A game.
Anaylse Mendoza followed Lang with 16 points, and Cayhill Lewis had 11 as the Bulldoggettes finished the season 13-17 overall and 6-8 in district.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Cooper nips Lubbock Coronado in District 4-5A boys basketball
