ANDREW SALMI [email protected]
The Taylor High School boys varsity basketball team went 2-2 at the Taylor Boys Showcase Tournament that was hosted Dec. 7-9 by the Ducks.
GATEWAY GATORS 69, TAYLOR DUCKS 66 Following an 86-73 loss to Killeen Chaparral High School, the Ducks put up a gritty performance against Georgetown Gateway Preparatory School but were edged 69-66 by the Gators in a heartbreaker for Taylor that was decided in overtime.
Taylor had a 19-15 lead after the first quarter and increased its lead to 39-29 by halftime. Gateway would rise to the occasion in the second half by getting within a 50-46 deficit in the third quarter. In a back-andforth affair in the fourth quarter, the Ducks and the Gators were locked at 62-62 heading into overtime but Gateway was able to lock in defensively and pull out the three-point win.
Ducks senior standout Treos Richardson did it all in the hard-fought loss for Taylor as he scored a team-high 20 points two three-pointers, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists. Taylor junior T.J.
Whybrew also scored in double figures with 17 points and three rebounds while fellow junior Kylon Harris had a solid game with nine points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.
TAYLOR DUCKS 65, AUSTIN ROYALS 50
The Ducks got into the win column Friday afternoon as Taylor was able to handle business with a 65-50 victory over Austin Royals HomeSchool for its first win of the tournament. Richardson could not be stopped by the Royals as he went off for Taylor with a gamehigh 30 points on 12-of-16 shots from the field, four three-pointers, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Also scoring in double figures for the Ducks were the junior duo of Whybrew and Eli Laurence to help propel Taylor to a much-needed victory. Whybrew had 11 points and seven rebounds while Laurence also scored in double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds of his own.
TAYLOR DUCKS 75, BASTROP BEARS 70
Taylor continued its high scoring at its home tournament as the Ducks used a huge third quarter and were able to hang on late for a 75-70 victory against the Bears of Bastrop High School. After the Ducks maintained a 30-29 edge at halftime, the Ducks came out on fire in the third quarter as the trio of Richardson, Whybrew and Laurence got going offensively to give their squad a 54-40 lead.
Bastrop was able to rally in the fourth quarter but the comeback effort came up short as the Ducks were able to keep the Bears at bay enough to secure Taylor’s second straight victory.
Richardson led the way with a team-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Laurence again stepped up for the Ducks with 16 points and seven rebounds while Whybrew scored in double figures with 15 points and four rebounds of his own.
This Taylor squad under Head Coach Stephen Gibson will try to string some more wins together as the Ducks have a road game scheduled Dec. 12 at Leander High School and then back at home Friday night hosting Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
