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Hermleigh’s Richie Clement (4) drives to the basket against Loraine during Friday’s game. -
Dylan Sorrells makes a move on the baseline during Hermleigh’s 54-48 win.
LORAINE — Hermleigh took control of Friday’s game midway through the second quarter and defeated Loraine 54-48 in a District 12-1A basketball game Friday.
The victory moved Hermleigh (9-10, 3-2) into a tie with Ira and Westbrook for second place in the district. Hermleigh will play four of the five remaining district games at home.
“Loraine is a team that hustles and plays tough,” Hermleigh head coach Sam Winters said. “This was our third straight district win.”
Hermleigh led 9-6 late in the quarter before Loraine scored five straight points to take an 11-9 lead.
The Cardinals grabbed the momentum midway through the second quarter with a 9-2 run and held a 28-19 lead. Loraine cut the deficit to seven points, but Kelton Carroll made one free throw, giving the Cardinals a 29-21 halftime lead.
Eli Garza and Chase Carr each had made two field goals to give Hermleigh a 37-21 lead during the third quarter.
Loraine kept the game close by using a 12-4 run and trailed 41-33 going into the fourth quarter.
Hermleigh regained a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Loraine scored nine unanswered points to cut the deficit to 50-44 with 2:31 left in the game.
“We controlled the tempo and did a better job with our full-court press in the second quarter,” Winters said. “Our shots started to fall, too. Kelton is a little guy, fast and makes a lot of things happen. Dylan, Eli and Chase stepped up their game and have been good leaders. We had a chance to put them away, but let Loraine sneak back in the game. We have been in that position before. We didn’t win those games early in the season, but now we are winning those games.”
Garza scored 18 points for Hermleigh and Carroll had 10 points. Sorrells added nine points.
Caden Walthall led Loraine with 14 points and Sonny Benivamondez scored 11 points.
Winters likes the progress of his team since the beginning of the district.
“They are not playing like young players any more,” Winters said. “They have matured into good players after all of the game experience. It’s starting to show as we reach the halfway point of district.”
Hermleigh will host Westbrook Tuesday.
Hermleigh 9 20 12 13—54
Loraine 11 10 12 15—48
Hermleigh scorers — Eli Garza 18, Kelton Carroll 10, Dylan Sorrells 9, Matt Gonzales 8, Chase Carr 5, Genaro Olvera 3, Richie Clement 1.
Loraine scorers — Caden Walthall 14, Sonny Benivamondez 11, Dakota Smith 8, Gio Benivamondez 5, William Smith 4, Javon Waithall 4, Andrew Nieto 2.