A 20-point fourth quarter last Friday gave the Ducks boys basketball team their 10th win of the season and kept them in contention for first place in the district. Taylor improved their record to 10-18 and 2-1 in district. The Ducks defeated Gateway College Preparatory 53-44 as three Taylor players scored in double digits.
The first half of the contest looked like the Ducks and Gators would compete in a game that would come down to the wire as the teams finished the first quarter knotted at 8-8.
The scoring in the second quarter was also close. Taylor headed into the halftime break leading the Gator with a slim one-point lead 21-20.
Things got scary in the third quarter. After 24 minutes of play Gateway College Preparatory led the Ducks 35-33 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the Taylor offense catch fire as they outscored the Gators 20-9 to close out the win.
Taylor shot 40% from the field connecting on 14 of 32 two-point shots. The Ducks went 4-for-17 from three-point land and 13-for-30 from the charity stripe.
The Gators topped the Ducks in transition points (10-4) Points off turnovers (17-15) and second-chance points (13-11).
The defensive game was close between the schools. Taylor outrebounded Gateway College Preparatory 38-36. The Gators had 16 deflections while the Ducks led with 11 steals.
Conner Cobb led the Ducks with another double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Anthony Cottrill also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Landon Velasquez also scored double digits with 10 points and led with 5 assists.
Johnny Torres wrapped the top scorers with seven points with two of his buckets being shots from beyond the arc.
Velasquez, Cobb and Jett VanBrocklin each had two steals against the Gators.
Gateway College Preparatory also had three players with double-digit scoring with Caleb Bell leading with 13 points.
The Ducks were back in action on Tuesday on the road as they take on Salado for the first time this season. So far this season Taylor is 3-8 on the road as they look to turn things around. Four of the six teams in 4A-III District 19 are all vying for first place to include the Ducks.
