CASEY GEORG Special to the Press
THRALL — Payton Gillmore’s 12 points led five Thrall Tigers in double-figure scoring, and the Tigers (22-3 overall, 5-2 District 27-2A) topped the Granger Lions (11-10, 2-5) 54-36 Tuesday night to remain in the district title hunt.
The Tigers jumped out to an 11-0 lead on the Lions in the opening period. Gilmore, who has been hot from the field of late, canned a pair of three-point jumpers, and Dawson Meiske connected on three of four shots from the free-throw line in the early run. Granger ended their scoring drought when Trae Herrera hit the front end of a one-and-one.
Thrall held a 15-5 advantage at the end of the period.
Granger’s Isaac Campos helped the Lions cut into the Tiger’s lead in the second, scoring 10 of his gamehigh 14 points, in the second quarter. Campos’ two treys paced the Lions to a 15-11 scoring edge in the quarter and trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 26-20 at the half.
“I thought Granger did a really good job,” said Thrall Head Coach Charles Tindol. “They seem to always play hard against us.”
Thrall finally got some breathing room in the third quarter. Steven Walker, who finished with 11 points, and Ethan Dahl, who totaled 10, each scored six for the Tigers in the quarter, and Thrall held the Lions to just a pair of baskets. Thrall outscored the Lions 15-7 in the quarter and extended their lead to 41-27 entering the final period.
As has been the case for much of the Tigers’ season, the scoring shifted again in the fourth quarter.
Breken Proctor, who had 11 points on the night, picked up where the others left off. He scored nine in the final period. Granger, meanwhile, continued to struggle from the field in the fourth and managed just nine points.
“We did a better job of taking care of the ball in the second half,” Tindol said. “That was a big reason why we were able to get more of a lead. The boys also keep playing well together and I think our defense is just getting better, and better.”
The Tigers are currently in third in the district standings, trailing district- leading Thorndale (23-3, 6-0) and Holland (15-6, 5-1). After Thrall travels Jan. 26 to play Bartlett, the Tigers will return home Tuesday to host Holland in a critical district match-up. Granger is currently sitting fifth in district and is scheduled Jan. 26 to host Thorndale.
Photo by Larry Pelchat
