MADISONVILLE — This has been a banner year for the Thrall Tigers (285). A week ago, they recorded their first bi-district win in 12 years. Then, on Tuesday night, with their 62-58 win over the Big Sandy Wildcats (18-16), they advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time in 34 years.
The two teams traded baskets throughout the first quarter. Dawson Meiske, who finished the night with 16 points, was a force in the paint for the Tigers. A pair of second-chance jumpers helped the Tigers to a 4-3 lead, and his three-point play with 2:17 to play in the quarter knotted the game at nine.
Big Sandy regained the lead on its next possession, but once again Meiske converted a three-point play, this time putting the Tigers ahead 12-11 with 1:12 on the clock. It appeared that would be how the first quarter would end, but Carson Ball’s layup off a Wildcat turnover gave the Tigers a 14-11 lead through one quarter.
In the second period, it was the Payton Gillmore show. While always a threat to score, Gillmore’s role through much of the season has been to run the offense. But against Big Sandy, with the Wildcats focusing on the Tigers’ usual scorers, Gillmore seized the opportunity to impact the game. He hit three shots from behind the three-point arc in the second quarter, which allowed the Tigers to expand their lead to 36-26 by halftime.
The second half started slow for both teams. Big Sandy scored its first basket of the half with 5:27 to play in the third quarter, but a minute later Gillmore dropped in another three-pointer that put the Tigers up 39-28. He would score again on a second-chance jumper with 3:58 to play in the quarter. And, just for good measure, Gillmore popped one more trey with 1:59 on the clock, which gave the Tigers their biggest lead of the game at 48-32. Thrall finished the quarter with a 48-37 advantage.
Thrall continued to coast through much of the fourth period. The Tigers still maintained an 11-point advantage with just over two minutes to play.
A three-point play with 1:29 to play cut the Thrall lead to 56-50, and a three-pointer and lay-up following a steal by Big Sandy’s Tavian Battise pulled the Wildcats within one with just under a minute to play. Battise missed a chance to tie the game when he missed a free throw following his steal and layup.
Steven Walker gave the Tigers a little breathing room with a pair of free throws, but again Battise brought the Wildcats back with a three-pointer. But, that would be the Wildcats’ last rally. Meiske found himself open on an inbound and scored a layup with 24 seconds to play, and banked in a pair of free throws with two seconds on the clock to preserve the win.
Gilmore finished the night with a game-high 19 points, while Meiske turned in 16. Breken Proctor added 11 points and Walker finished the night with nine.
Thrall played the Kenedy Lions Friday night in the regional semifinals at Buda Johnson High School. The winner was scheduled to face the winner of Santa Maria and Sabine Pass, who played in the other semifinal game.
