Tigers topple Rangers, 65-54 to force first place tie

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  • Snyder senior Teafale Lenard (left) battled with Midland Greenwood senior Brody Ray on his way to the basket during the Tigers’ 65-54 win Saturday. Lenard scored 11 points.
    Snyder senior Teafale Lenard (left) battled with Midland Greenwood senior Brody Ray on his way to the basket during the Tigers’ 65-54 win Saturday. Lenard scored 11 points.
  • Corey Landin prepared to shoot a 3-pointer
    Corey Landin prepared to shoot a 3-pointer
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It was a big night for the big men on the Snyder Tigers boys basketball team as they overpowered the Midland Greenwood Rangers en route to a 53-44 win Saturday.
Sophomore Eber Murillo was a force in the paint as Snyder turned to him and his six-foot-five frame to take down the Rangers Saturday.
With the win, Snyder moved into a tie for first place with the Rangers and head coach Lee Scott was very happy with his team following the win.
“It’s a big win,” he said. “These kids fought hard, did our game plan and executed well. We deserve to celebrate tonight, but we still have two games left so we have to be ready to go on Monday.”
Both teams opened the game up with some fireworks as they traded 3-pointers to kick off the game.
The 3s did not stop falling for Greenwood however. The Rangers made five 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 19-12 lead after the first quarter.
Murillo scored his first five points in the quarter and Lenard and senior Jayden Samaniego combined to add another seven.
Snyder made their adjustments heading into the second quarter, shutting down the Greenwood deep threats and holding the Rangers to just eight points in the second quarter.
“We stepped up our defense and we didn’t allow as much penetration, so I don’t think they got as easy of looks,” Scott said. “I think that is what helped us slow them there.”
Senior Corey Landin powered the Tiger offense with a pair of 3-pointers and Murillo added another four points. Juniors Zach Miller, Michael Jaramillo and senior Jayden Samaniego all added two points and the Tigers took the lead heading into the half on a last second layup from Murillo, 28-27.
Snyder stayed hot to start the second half as a 3 from Lenard and another bucket by Murillo got Snyder off on a 5-0 run.
The Rangers scored just one point over the first four minutes of the half and Miller scored back to back buckets to put Snyder up 37-27 with three minutes left in the quarter. Jaramillo hit his first 3-pointer and the Tigers held Greenwood to just two third quarter points. Snyder led 42-29 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Rangers, looking to get back into the game, went back to shooting the 3, getting one to land early.
The Rangers managed to outscore the Tigers, 15-11 in the fourth quarter but could not make up for the large deficit they faced coming into the quarter.
Snyder continued to feed the post and Murillo responded with a six-point fourth quarter. Samaniego added another three points and Snyder came away with the 53-44 victory.
The Tigers went into the game knowing Greenwood would try to shut down the Tiger guards, so Scott said he and his team decided to adjust accordingly.
“We knew they were going to guard Jayden and Teafale hard and they guarded Michael hard last time, so we kind of switched up our offense to get some guys open down low,” Scott said.  “We were able to find them and get easy buckets and that forced them to go to a regular defense and we were able to run our regular offense and make shots. These guys like to play together and they are not a selfish team. Whoever is open, they are going to get them the ball.”
Snyder has two games left on the schedule and need to stay perfect to have a chacne at the district 5-4A title. They will be on the road to take on San Angelo Lake View at 8 p.m. Tuesday before returning home to host Big Spring on Friday.

Snyder scorers: Eber Murillo, 17 points; Teafale Lenard, 11 points; Jayden Samaniego, 7 points; Corey Landin, 6 points; Michael Jaramillo, 6 points; Zach Miller, 6 points.