MANOR – After a slow start, the Taylor Ducks basketball team ended the regular season dominating the back half of district play.
The Taylor Ducks defeated the Manor New Tech Titans 63-53, Tuesday, Feb. 14, to solidify and punch their ticket to the playoffs. The win was the sixth in a row for the Ducks after starting 2-4 in district play.
The win came on the road for the Ducks, and they were able to capture and hold onto an early lead by taking advantage at the free throw line. The Titans led the first quarter with six fouls including one at the end of the quarter.
Ducks senior Conner Cobb handled his business at the line and gave his team a 16-11 lead heading into the second quarter. The Ducks would build on the late momentum and add 15 points to their score before halftime. The Ducks’ defense also woke up in the second quarter and limited the Titans to only nine points before breaking for halftime. The Ducks would end the second quarter just like the first, by knocking down shots at the free throw line late in the quarter.
With a 31-20 lead at halftime, the Ducks had confidence as the third quarter got started. The confidence was warranted by the Ducks but allowed the Titans’ offense to chip away at the lead.
Taylor would get in foul trouble in the third quarter racking up six fouls in the quarter. The Titans would take advantage by scoring 14 points in the quarter to try to find a way to victory in the second half.
The Ducks’ offense would respond with 14 points of their own to carry a 45-34 lead into the final quarter.
Manor did not back down from the Ducks as they came into the fourth with a sense of urgency and it paid off offensively. The Titans attacked the basket hard in the fourth trying to find some magic and momentum to start a rally.
It was starting to work for Titans, but the Ducks decided, as a unit, not to show their belly and finished the game strong. The Ducks began to dominate the interior offensively as Anthony Cottrill was an unstoppable force. Cottrill scored 16 points in the game, and he did it by out working the defender near the basket. The Titans scored 19 points in the fourth as a part of their late rally, but the Ducks would deliver the knockout punch by scoring 18 points to close out the game.
The win secures the Ducks spot in the playoffs and while they were happy to win, they know their first playoff matchup is on the horizon.
The Ducks will go up against Washington (Houston) at 7:30 p.m. in the first round at Blinn College on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
