The Taylor Ducks boys varsity basketball team lost 56-37 to the Waco Lions on Tuesday, Dec. 10. This marked the second straight game in which the Ducks scored fewer than 40 points, following a 45-37 loss to McCallum.
Taylor started aggressively on defense, forcing three steals in the first quarter as the game was tied at 4-4 early on. Both teams traded 3-pointers before Waco pulled ahead 10-8. A 3-pointer by Braylen Rivers briefly gave Taylor an 11-10 lead, but the Lions dominated the next two quarters, outscoring the Ducks 25-7 to take a commanding 35-15 lead into halftime.
Taylor made a comeback attempt after 3-pointers by junior guard Kadrien Deary and sophomore forward Landon Coulter cut the deficit to 42-27, but the Lions outscored the Ducks 14-10 in the final quarter.
The Ducks’ offensive struggles stemmed from turnovers and poor shooting, as they committed 17 turnovers and shot 29% from the field. Taylor’s leading scorer, senior guard TJ Whybrew, was held to a season-low four points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Deary led Taylor with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, marking his third consecutive game in double figures. Coulter and senior forward Eli Laurence combined for 13 points, with Laurence also grabbing five rebounds.
The Ducks fell to 2-3 on the season and will look to bounce back from a tough offensive stretch. Taylor is set to compete in the Cameron Yoemen Tournament from Dec. 12-14, where they will face Marlin, Mumford, McGregor and an opponent to be determined.
