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Snyder junior Zach Miller (center) battled his way through a pair of Sweetwater defenders on his way to a layup during the Tigers’ 72-32 win over the Mustangs Friday. -
Eber Murillo prepared to shoot a free throw. Murillo and Miller combined to score 32 points in the win.
There was never much of a doubt for Snyder fans while watching the Snyder Tigers boys basketball team defeat the Sweetwater Mustangs in a 72-32 blowout in the District 5-4A opener.
Four Tigers (11-12, 1-0) reached double digit scoring.
Snyder head coach Lee Scott said his team played its most complete game of the season.
“That is probably one of the few times this year where we had a great start and we didn’t let up,” he said. “We started well and we finished well. The hot start was key and we didn’t let up. If we can do that every district game, then we will be alright.”
Snyder took control from the tip-off. On the first possession, senior Jayden Samaniego tossed the first of two first-quarter alley-oop slam dunks to senior Teafale Lenard, setting the tone for the game. Samaniego and junior Michael Jaramillo both hit 3s and sophomore Eber Murillo scored his first points as Snyder started the game on an 11-0 run.
Murillo put together a seven point first quarter and Lenard scored nine points helping the Tigers build a 30-8 lead heading into the second quarter.
After scoring 30 points in the first quarter, the Tiger offense kept things rolling in the second quarter. Murillo and junior Zach Miller found success in the post and the Tigers opened the quarter with an 8-0 run.
Samaniego drilled back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the quarter and the Mustangs, still without a basket in the quarter, called a timeout to try to regroup, which had the fans in Tiger Gym roaring.
Miller and Murillo teamed up to score eight points in the second quarter and the Tigers outscored the Mustangs, 17-2 to take a 47-10 lead at the half.
A 3-pointer from Lenard kick-started the second half for the Tigers and stretched the lead to 40 points.
Murillo scored nine points in the third quarter and Jaramillo hit his second 3-pointer, and the Tigers built up a 66-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Scott opted to rest his starters in the fourth quarter and the Tigers scored just six points in the fourth quarter. Sweetwater managed its biggest quarter of the night, outscoring Snyder 13-6, but the damage was done and the Tigers closed out the 72-32 win.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak and kicked off district on a winning note.
The Tigers offense clicked at all levels. Post players Murillo and Miller had no trouble scoring in the post, while Lenard and Samaniego combined for 28 points.
“They do things well together,” Scott said of his senior guards. “When those guys are playing well together and they work the way they can, we have a tough one-two punch for people to stop. If we can realize that and continue to play like that, then we can be unstoppable.”
Up next for the Tigers is a road match-up with Midland Greenwood at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Snyder scorers: Eber Murillo, 20 points; Teafale Lenard, 17 points; Zach Miller, 12 points; Jayden Samaniego, 11 points; Michael Jaramillo, 8 points; Sammy Sosa, 2 points; Yajat Bhakta, 2 points.
Sweetwater scorers: Darian Carr, 10 points; Kei’arriyen Griffin, 4 points; Harrison Foster, 4 points; Leo Holsey, 4 points; Daiman Atkins, 3 points; Armando Torres, 3 points; Jackson Dodd, 2 points; Murray Cai, 2 points.