Tigers Rip Trojans, 45-25

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

TRINIDAD – The Latexo Tigers closed out their pre-Thanksgiving basketball schedule with a road trip to Trinidad for a game against the Trojans and used a stifling defense to help pick up a 45-25 win.

It was a low-scoring affair as the two teams combined for a total of 24 points in the first half of play.

The first quarter saw the Tigers limit the Trojans to five points as Jerry Bannister scored three and Antowyn Shofer added two.

Latexo received four points from Sonny Townsend, three points from Lane Stephens and two from Kase Miller to close out the first eight minutes of play with a 9-5 lead.

The Tigers ratcheted up the defense in the second quarter and limited the Trojans to a single point. Trinidad went to the free throw line six times in the period but only converted one as Bannister kept Trinidad from being shut out completely.

Latexo, meanwhile, kept their scoring output consistent in the second as they duplicated their first quarter scoring with another nine points. Townsend scored five and Miller dropped in four as the Tigers pushed their lead to 13 and lead by a halftime score of 18-6.

After the break, the two teams seemed to find some offensive rhythm. Trinidad eclipsed their entire first half scoring with 14 points in the period. Bannister added six more to his total, Raymond Dawson added four, Nathan Williams had two, while both Bill Snyder and Zack Stanfield made a single free throw.

The Tigers relied on the three point shot after the break to push their lead to 19. It was the Carter Catoe show in the third as he drained four from behind the arc for 12 points. Townsend also dropped in a three – to go along with six points from inside – as Latexo worked the lead to 39-20 with one quarter left to play.

Trinidad was unable to keep the offensive momentum from the third quarter going in the fourth as Hunter Robinson and Shofer both had two while Stanfield made one of two from the line to account for all of the Trojans’ fourth quarter points.

Latexo only scored six in the quarter – on Townsend’s four and Catoe’s two – but it was enough to keep Trinidad at bay and give the Tigers the 45-25 win.

For the game, Trinidad was led by Jerry Bannister with 10 points. Raymond Dawson and Antowyn Shofer both netted four. Hunter Robinson, Zack Stanfield and Nathan Williams all scored two while Bill Snyder added one to account for the Trinidad points.

Latexo was led by Sonny Townsend with 22 and Carter Catoe with 14 points. Kase Miller dropped in six and Lane Stephens added three to round out the Tigers’ scoring.

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