Sandies Inch Closer to District Title
Grapeland Defeats Centerville, 89-35
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
GRAPELAND – After watching the Grapeland Sandiettes take down the Centerville Lady Tigers to clinch the District 20-2A championship, the Sandies took another step towards their 11th consecutive district championship as they blasted the Centerville Tigers 81-35.
The Sandies spread the ball around the court in the first quarter as seven Grapeland players scored. Javion Joseph hit a three and two free throws, while Deco Bryant hit a three and a free throw and Rick Frauenberger knocked down a two and two free throws. Josh Ackley, Keizion Ashford, Keriaun Davis and Cadarian Wiley all dropped in two as Grapeland took a 21-11 lead after the first eight minutes of play.
The Tigers’ were led in first quarter scoring by Dillon Denman with seven points while Clayton Bell and Evan Neubauer both had two.
As the second quarter began, the Sandies tightened up on defense. Bell added four, Gabe Castillo had two and Denman was one of two from the line to wrap up the Tigers’ first half point production.
The Sandies, meanwhile, kept Centerville on their heels as they raced out to a 40-18 lead by the time the horn blew for halftime. Frauenberger paced Grapeland with six second period points. Tyrin Wiley added four, Bryant hit his second three of the game while Davis, Joseph and C. Wiley all dropped in two apiece.
As the third quarter began, Denman heated up for the Tigers and knocked down seven points. Unfortunately, Bell and Cannon Robinson were the only other Centerville players to score as they both netted two.
Meanwhile, the Sandies put the game away after the break as they crushed the Tigers’ will to continue with 29 points. Joseph poured in nine while both Bryant and Frauenberger had six apiece. C. Wiley had three, while Ackley and T. Wiley both had two. Davis made one of two from the line to round out the Grapeland third quarter scoring with the Sandies up by a margin of 69-29.
Down by 40 with eight minutes left to play, the Tigers only managed to add six points to their total as Bell, Denman and Robinson all had two.
The Sandies continued to run-and-gun as they dropped 20 points on the Tigers in the final eight minutes of play to make the score 89-35 at the buzzer. Bryant nailed a pair of threes, T. Wiley added five and Davis had four. Austin Driskell connected from behind the arc and Joseph added a two-pointer to close out the Grapeland scoring.
On the game, Centerville was led by Dillon Denman with 17 points. Clayton Bell had 10, Cannon Robinson had four and both Gabe Castillo, along with Evan Neubauer, had two.
For the Sandies, four players were in double figures. Deco Bryant led Grapeland with a game-high 19 points while Javion Joseph had 18. Rick Frauenberger singed the twines for 16 and Tyrin Wiley knocked down 11. Keriaun Davis had nine, Cadarian Wiley had seven and Josh Ackley had four. Austin Driskell had a three-pointer and Keizion Ashford had two.
The Sandies faced the Lovelady Lions on Tuesday, Feb. 5, but as of press time, the score was unavailable.
PHOTOS BY JON HOBSON
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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