The Taylor Ducks boys’ varsity basketball team finished second in the Cameron Yoe Tournament, held Dec. 12-14. The Ducks went 3-2, earning wins over Mumford, McGregor and Hillsboro before falling to Marlin in the championship game.
Vs. Marlin
Senior guard TJ Whybrew’s 29-point performance on Dec. 12 was not enough as the Ducks fell 66-63 to the Marlin Bulldogs in double overtime. The game was a back-and-forth battle that could have gone either way. Taylor had one of its best shooting nights of the season, hitting 46% from the field. Junior guard Kadrien Deary added 17 points and seven rebounds as he continued his breakout season.
Vs. Mumford
Despite the tough loss, the Ducks bounced back on Dec. 13, defeating Mumford 50-43. Taylor’s defense shined, holding the Mustangs to their lowest point total of the tournament.
Whybrew and senior forward Kylon Harris led the Ducks offensively.
Whybrew finished with 15 points, while Harris added 14. The Ducks shot an efficient 49% from the field.
Vs. McGregor
Taylor carried its momentum into a 64-54 victory over McGregor on Dec.
13. The Ducks shot a tournament-high 50% from the field as Whybrew delivered another dominant performance, scoring 27 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Senior forward Eli Laurence contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.
Vs. Hillsboro
The Ducks won their third consecutive game, advancing to the tournament finals with a 44-37 victory over the Eagles on Dec. 14. Taylor’s defense stepped up as its offense cooled, shooting just 38% from the field. Whybrew led the Ducks with 17 points, while Laurence added seven points and a season-high 17 rebounds, which helped put Taylor over the top.
Vs. Marlin
Taylor’s offensive stretch came to an end in a 61-45 loss to Marlin on Dec. 14. Despite shooting a solid 47% from the field, the Ducks struggled with turnovers, committing 20 as a team. Laurence led Taylor with 19 points, while Whybrew recorded 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds.
The Ducks, now 5-5 on the season, showed significant improvement on offense throughout the tournament.
Taylor looks to carry this momentum into its upcoming games, taking on Bastrop on Dec. 17 before hosting Jarrell on Friday, Dec. 20, at 7:15 p.m.
