CASEY GEORG Special to the Press
BARTLETT — Entering Friday’s matchup with the Bartlett Bulldogs, the Tigers trailed the front-running Thorndale Bulldogs by a pair of games and second-place Holland by a game. Things did not change after the Tigers’ (23-3 overall, 6-2) 63-41 rout of the Bulldogs (7-16, 2-6). The win kept the Tigers very much in the hunt for the district championship with four games remaining.
Second-chance shots played a role in the Tigers taking the lead early. Dawson Meiske, who finished the night with 13 points, grabbed a pair of offensive rebounds and put the ball back in for four of his five first-quarter points. Meiske’s efforts helped the Tigers to a 10-5 first-quarter lead.
Thrall has enjoyed a balanced offensive output most of the season, and Friday was no exception. In the second period, four Tigers put points on the board led by Breken Proctor and Ethan Dahl, who had five points each in a 16-point quarter for Thrall. Meiske dropped in another four points, and Thrall held a 26-15 edge at the half.
Proctor heated up from the field beginning in the third period. He finished the night with a game-high 26 points and scored seven of those in the third quarter. His two three-pointers in the third helped the Tigers expand their lead to 44-27. Steven Walker also got hot from the field, scoring six of his 11 points in the third.
Proctor continued to be on from behind the threepoint arch in the fourth quarter, draining three more shots from behind the arch, and tallying 11 points over the final period. Ty Urbis added four points to the Tigers’ total, while Meiske and Payton Gillmore each scored for Thrall, as well. Bartlett had its best quarter in the fourth, scoring 14 points, but they could not close the gap.
Thrall was back home on Tuesday to host the Holland Hornets. Holland took a 45-43 win over the Tigers in their first meeting. The Tigers needed a win to move into a tie for second with the Hornets and remain in the chase for the district crown.
