CowTown Tip-Off - Saturday Evening Games
The Cowtown Tip-Off in Ft. Worth 2019
North Crowley High School and Crowley High School hosted The Cowtown Tip-Off Friday and Saturday. The state’s top teams in class 4-A, 5-A and 6-A were on hand to open the season. Faith Family of Dallas, Mansfield Timberview and Duncanville put their top billing on the line and only Duncanville came away with an unblemished record. The games were well supported by the locals and the hospitality and facilities were outstanding. College coaches dotted the landscape as the best in Texas basketball were on display. {The state rankings are by Texas Hoops}
Allen (#4 6-A) 57 Dallas St. Marks 50
Allen and St. Marks were all tied at the 1:10 mark of the 4th quarter when Allen scored the final seven points of the game winning 57-50. Adrian Jubran (2020) hit a skip pass three late to put the Eagles up 53-50. Manny Obaseki (2021) and Thailand Elder (2020) finished the action with two dunks. St. Marks has a gifted trio of 6’7”Andrew Laczkowski (2020), 6’8” Harrison Ingram (2021) and 6’7” Colin Smith (2022). The Allen Eagles countered with 6’5” Ian Motta (2021), 6’7” Bryce Kennedy (2020) and 6’3” Manny Obaseki (2021). Allen coach Joe McCullough has a deep squad and that proved to be the difference as the Eagles pulled away late. Ingram and Smith tallied 10 points apiece for St. Marks, while Lacskowski led the way with 13 points. Corvin Oprea (2022) provided a big boost to the St. Marks hitting 4 of 5 from behind the arch and ended up 13 points.
Allen dominated inside with fresh legs outrebounding the private school 50-34. The Eagles placed three players in double figures with Elder leading the way with 17 points, followed by Mason Gibson (2021) with 12 points and Obaseki put up 10 points. Allen took 22 more shots from the floor but could only connect on 22 of 70 for 31%. St. Marks struggled as well shooting 35% from the field. Both teams turned the ball over as the Lions had 22 turnovers and Allen committed 19. This was one of the most anticipated games of the day due to all of the talent represented on both teams.
Lewisville (#2 6-A) 66 Dallas Faith Family (#1 4-A)
Lewisville returned Saturday night after a tough loss to the defending 6-A state champions on Friday. Things didn’t get any easier for the Farmers as they teed it up against the defending 4-A state champions Dallas Faith Family. The Farmers responded by defeating Faith Family 66-55 in a game full of athletes. Faith Family struts out a line-up of 6’10” Darrius Miles (2020), 6’6” Jordon Walsh (2022), 6’3” Isaiah LeBlanc (2020), 6’0” Dallas Hobbs (2022) and 6’4” Trae Clayton (2022). Lewisville was unfazed as they played their aggressive style with two starters under six foot. Coach Brian Miller started 6’6” A.J. White against Faith Family after bringing him off the bench against Duncanville. His presence made a difference against the enormous size of Faith Family. Three of the top sophomores in the state were on display in Faith Family’s Trae Clayton and Jordan Walsh and Lewisville’s Keyonte George.
The Farmers got off to a quick start this time after trailing early on Friday night against Duncanville. Lewisville led 37-23 at halftime against Faith Family and were in control all the way. Lewisville led by 16 entering the 4th quarter. The Farmers have an incredible talent in Keyonte George. He can put it on the floor, elevate, shoot from range and is a strong finisher. The soph provided one of the top dunks of the evening with a one-handed tomahawk spike that looked as if he came off a trampoline. George finished the evening with 32 points with very little rest. K.J. Pruitt(2020) added 11 points for the Farmers in the win. Faith Family outrebounded Lewisville 38-30, but committed 18 turnovers to only 11 by the Farmers. Trae Clayton got very little help from his Faith Family teammates and finished with 27 points and 9 rebounds. None of his teammates reached double figures.
Duncanville (#1 6-A) 89 Lancaster (#3 5-A) 83
The Duncanville Panthers were back at it on Saturday night after their big win over Lewisville Friday evening. The Panthers came away with a much tougher 89-83 win over the Lancaster Tigers. Micah Peavy (2020) put on a clinic on Friday night but struggled against Lancaster, finishing with only 3 points, 11 rebounds, 4 turnovers and shot 1 of 10 from the floor. Coach David Peavy had to be happy with the way his teammates responded to the challenge. Zhuric Phelps (2021) threw up 16 points, Ja’Bryant Hill (2020) was a standout, especially late finishing with 19 points on 8 of 9 from the line. Robert Banks (2020) added 15 points and 7 rebounds to help the Duncanville cause. The real hero and savior of the day was the newest member of the team, Juan Reyna (2021). Reyna transferred in from San Antonio and kept the Panthers close in the first half when it looked like Lancaster was going to take things over. Reyna finished the evening with 31 points, hitting 9 of 14 from behind the arc. Not only did Reyna provide the shooters touch, he played outstanding defense and showed great court awareness. His consistency was uncanny as he hit big shot after big shot. Without Reyna’s contribution, the Panthers were beat.
When you face Lancaster, you had better be ready for one of the toughest guard trios in the state in 6’3” Mike Miles (2020), 6’0” Wade Taylor(2021) and 6’2 Marco Foster (2020). Wade can shoot it from long range and Miles is so physically strong driving to the basket. Miles highlight of the evening was a dunk that he actually missed, but sent the crowd buzzing. Miles took off and threw it down well above the rim. The ball hit the back of the rim and repelled to almost mid-court. Miles ended up the evening scoring 32 points on 3 of 6 from the 3-point line, 13 of 15 from the stripe. Miles ability to get to the line kept the Tigers in the contest. Taylor ended up with 21 points and 6’5” Jalon Williams (2021) added 13 points and 7 rebounds. 6’2” Marco Foster (2020) also showed his skills with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Coach Ferrin Douglas will look to Miles and Taylor to carry his team deep into the playoffs once again. The Tigers were upset last year in the regional semi-finals and ended the season with an impressive 31-3 record.