Playoff hopes for the 2022 Taylor boys basketball team are in critical condition. The Ducks have dropped their last five games and need some big help to get in. Taylor would need to win out and Lake Belton would lose the remainder of their games.
Gateway and the Ducks both put up big scoring numbers in the first quarter with the Gators taking a 17-13 advantage.
Gateway stretched their lead by halftime as they were able to hold Taylor to just eight points in the second eight minutes of the contest. Gateway took a 32-21 lead into the locker room at the break.
After a sluggish second quarter Taylor bounced back. The Ducks fired back in the third quarter outscoring the Gators 12-6 to trim the lead to within five, 38-33.
The final period ended with the squads matching points. Those five points are what mattered in the end for the Gators as both teams matched points in the fourth quarter 13-13.
The Ducks took the advantage in transition points, 5-4, second chance points, 9-6, and points in the paint, 26-18. Total rebounds and steals however fell the way of the Gators. Gateway outrebounded Taylor 31-24.
Treos Richardson led the Ducks with 14 points and added five defensive rebounds. Conner Cobb added 12 points and also had five rebounds. Josef Zuniga scored just two points but led Taylor on the boards with six total rebounds. Landon Velasquez and Johnny Torres each added five points for Taylor.
Asher Eddins was the leading scorer for the Gator with 20 points.
The Ducks currently sit at 2-6 in the district, tied with Gateway for the cellar spot. Taylor would need a win this past Friday at home against Salado and a win at home against Jarrell on Tuesday. The Broncos who are 3-5 would need to lose to both Gateway and at Salado. If Taylor and Lake Belton finish both 3-7 the Broncos win the tiebreaker having beaten the Ducks both times this season.
