ROUND ROCK — Junior guard Cylin Tate’s 18 points and 70% field goal percentage powered the Hutto Hippos to a 73-40 victory over district rival Cedar Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Cedar Ridge High School.
The win marked Hutto’s third straight and bolstered the team’s momentum heading into the final month of the regular season.
The first half was tightly contested. Hutto struggled with turnovers and defensive rebounding, while Cedar Ridge’s frequent fouls gave the Hippos a slight edge. Despite their struggles, Hutto entered halftime with a 27-21 lead.
The second half was a different story. Hutto came out firing, determined to put the game
away.
“We play the game within the game,” Hutto Head Coach Gant Caraway said. “In the first two minutes, we wanted two sets of kills [six defensive stops], and we got those.”
Midway through the third quarter, the Hippos went on a 14-0 run, turning a close game into a 20-point blowout. Junior guard Brian Caldwell fueled the defensive effort with six of the team’s 17 steals, leading a dominant second half.
Hutto outscored Cedar Ridge 47-19 after halftime, flipping the script from their earlier matchup, which the Raiders won.
“We always play great defense — we just haven’t been able to knock down shots,” Caraway said. “Tonight, defense plus offense was clicking.” The victory keeps the Hippos in postseason contention, as they sit fifth in the district standings with a 4-5 record — one game behind Vandegrift.
Hutto will aim to extend its win streak by facing Manor on Friday, Jan. 17 before traveling to Round Rock Westwood on Friday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
