Sandies Close out Undefeated District Season

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GROVETON – The Grapeland Sandies capped off the 2016-2017 District 20-2A season with a perfect 10-0 record after they defeated the Groveton Indians by a score of 61-29 on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Even though it wasn’t one of the team’s better shooting nights, the Sandies never trailed in the game as they scored 22 points off 22 Indian turnovers.

The Sandies opened up an 18-6 lead in the first quarter behind the play of several bench players with a starter or two thrown in for good measure. Tyrin Wiley led the Grapeland attack in the first eight minutes of play with six points. Case Boyd added five on a 3-pointer and a short jumper for two. Kamari Smith also scored five for the Sandies on two buckets from inside to go along with a free throw and Riley Chipman connected on a pair of free throws to close out the quarter.

The Indians point production came from Dawson Chumley, Eli Hardeman and Haden Terry who all scored two.

The second period was as close as the Indians would get to scoring in double figures during a quarter. Chumley dropped in five and Hardeman netted four, but that was all she wrote for the Indians.

Meanwhile, Grapeland moved outside and began to practice their 3-point shooting. Rick Frauenberger knocked down a pair of shots from 3-point land for six points. Parker Wilson hit a three, a two and a shot from the charity stripe for six, Rodney Davis drained a 3-pointer and Chipman added two to help give Grapeland a 35-15 lead at halftime.

After the break, the Groveton offense continued to struggle as they only put up eight in the third quarter on four points from both Chumley and Johnson.

Tink McQuirter got the Sandies going after halftime with six points while Wilson hit his second three and Smith added a two-pointer to extend the Grapeland lead to 46-23 with eight minutes remaining.

In the final frame, the Indians simply could not get in anything going as the Sandies’ defense limited them to six points once again behind Terry’s four points and Johnson’s two.

Grapeland continued to use the three in the fourth quarter as Chipman dropped in two from behind the arc to go along with a layup for eight points in the period. Smith moved outside as well to singe the twine with a three of his own while Frauenberger and Wilson both scored two to close out the game and give the Sandies the 61-29 win.

For the game, the Indians were led in scoring by Dawson Chumley with 11 points. Leon Johnson dropped in eight, Eli Hardeman had six and Haden Terry added four to account for the Groveton scoring.

The Sandies were led by Riley Chipman with 12 points and Parker Wilson with 11. Kamari Smith had 10, Rick Frauenberger had eight and both Tink McQuirter and Tyrin Wiley netted six. Case Boyd had five and Rodney Davis added three to close out the Grapeland point production.

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