Mustangs Reach Regional Quarterfinals

Slocum 63 Rosebud-Lott 37

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GROESBECK – After defeating the Cross Roads Bobcats in the Bi-District round of the playoffs, the Slocum Mustangs traveled to Groesbeck for an Area Championship game against the Rosebud-Lott Cougars on Friday, Feb. 22.

Slocum came into game as the third seed out of District 20-2A while Rosebud-Lott was the fourth seed out of District 17-2A.

While the game was close in the early minutes, it didn’t take the Mustangs very long to open up a double-digit lead as they coasted to the Area Championship with a 63-37 win.

As the game got underway, the Cougars simply could not stop Slocum’s Colby Thornton as he dominated the inside with seven first quarter points. Josh Ives and Lincoln Smith both hit from behind the arc while Randy Guess and Travis Neal added two apiece to give the Mustangs a 17-6 lead after the first eight minutes of action.

The Rosebud-Lott points came from Haven Mortimer with three, Brady Hering with two and Steven Buhl with one.

The two teams played fairly close in the second quarter as Slocum scored 13 and Rosebud-Lott netted 10. Neal led the charge for the Mustangs with six points in the period while Ives hit his second three of the game. Guess and Smith both dropped in two as Slocum took a 30-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Hering added four to his point total for the Cougars while Mortimer, John Reyna and Ty Stock all chipped in two second quarter points.

After the break, the Mustangs began to pull away. Thornton poured in seven third quarter points while Ives knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Neal had six, as well.

Try as they might, the Cougars could not overcome the hole they found themselves in. Hering had six in the third, Mortimer had five and Reyna had two as the Cougars found themselves staring up at a 20-point deficit with one quarter left to play.

Thornton helped the Mustangs salt the game away with 10 fourth quarter points while Ives and Mark Guess had two apiece to help give Slocum the 63-37 win and the Area Championship.

On the game, the Cougars were led in scoring by Haven Mortimer with 13 points and Brady Hering with 12. John Reyna added four and Jordan Landrum netted three. Ty Stock and Nathan Truesdale had two apiece while Steven Buhl made of two from the line to account for the Rosebud-Lott point production.

The Mustangs were led by Colby Thornton with a game-high 24 points. Josh Ives singed the twine for 14 and Travis Neal netted 12. Lincoln Smith knocked down five points while Randy Guess had four. Rounding out the Slocum scoring, Mark Guess had two.

The win moved the Mustangs into the Regional Quarterfinals against the Lovelady Lions on Tuesday, Feb. 26. As of press time, however, the score from that game was unavailable.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].