Sports > Schools
Keep on rollin: Lobos keep one-game lead over The Colony
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
Another district loss would likely send the Little Elm boys basketball team into a two-way tie with The Colony for first place in the District 9-4A standings.
That’s why the Lobos figure it’s better to win out and leave no room for sharing atop the final playoff standings.
“After we lost the first one, we turned our thoughts to 13-1,” said Rusty Segler, Little Elm head coach. “When you get beat, you better have Plan B.”
The Lobos have tallied a 3-0 mark since their Jan. 11 loss to The Colony, including a pair of victories against Frisco Liberty and Frisco in the past week.
“That’s huge,” Segler said. “Knowing we can lose a game and still be in first is big. Hopefully it’ll come down to another showdown with [The Colony].”
During Little Elm’s most recent win, a 65-52 home victory against Frisco, balance was the name of the game at the offensive end. Senior guard Jalen Bridges, who now leads the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, scored a team-high 16 to become one of five Lobos in double figures. Senior forward Shaun Grant and senior guard Biron Joseph chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively, while junior guard Kortny Ealy and senior guard Devante’ Pullum added 10 apiece.
“We pretty much controlled the game from the start,” Segler said. “It’s always good when you have five guys score in double figures like that.”
The win came just days after a dominant road effort against Liberty that saw the Lobos come out on top, 61-40.
“We scored off our defense in that game more than we have all year,” Segler said. “There was a lot more fast break points in that one.”
Now the Lobos will turn their attention to an 8 p.m. road matchup tonight against a motivated Heritage team that currently sits in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the district.
“It’s going to be huge,” Segler said. “I know Heritage believes they should have won last time they played us. They’ll be gunning for us now.”
Little Elm earned a 79-69 victory during a Dec. 21 meeting, with Joseph and Bridges combining for 39 points.
With an 18-6 mark on the season and a 7-1 record against 9-4A counterparts, the Lobos control their own fate in the race for the district title. Winning out would assure the team sole possession of the championship and the top playoff seed from the district.
“We respect everybody but don’t fear anybody,” Segler said.
Following tonight’s road meeting with Heritage, the Lobos return home Tuesday to square off against Prosper in an 8 p.m. contest.
Lady Lobos sweep Frisco
The Little Elm girls basketball team earned a season sweep over Frisco on Tuesday by pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 58-47 victory.
Junior Kiara Almonte scored a game-high 22 points in the contest while juniors Hollie Nealy and Jazz Savage added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Lobos had previously won a Dec. 18 matchup for their first district win of the season. Tuesday’s victory improved Little Elm to 2-8 against District 9-4A foes and sets up a 6:30 p.m. road battle against third-place Heritage on Friday.
That’s why the Lobos figure it’s better to win out and leave no room for sharing atop the final playoff standings.
“After we lost the first one, we turned our thoughts to 13-1,” said Rusty Segler, Little Elm head coach. “When you get beat, you better have Plan B.”
The Lobos have tallied a 3-0 mark since their Jan. 11 loss to The Colony, including a pair of victories against Frisco Liberty and Frisco in the past week.
“That’s huge,” Segler said. “Knowing we can lose a game and still be in first is big. Hopefully it’ll come down to another showdown with [The Colony].”
During Little Elm’s most recent win, a 65-52 home victory against Frisco, balance was the name of the game at the offensive end. Senior guard Jalen Bridges, who now leads the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, scored a team-high 16 to become one of five Lobos in double figures. Senior forward Shaun Grant and senior guard Biron Joseph chipped in 15 and 12 points, respectively, while junior guard Kortny Ealy and senior guard Devante’ Pullum added 10 apiece.
“We pretty much controlled the game from the start,” Segler said. “It’s always good when you have five guys score in double figures like that.”
The win came just days after a dominant road effort against Liberty that saw the Lobos come out on top, 61-40.
“We scored off our defense in that game more than we have all year,” Segler said. “There was a lot more fast break points in that one.”
Now the Lobos will turn their attention to an 8 p.m. road matchup tonight against a motivated Heritage team that currently sits in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the district.
“It’s going to be huge,” Segler said. “I know Heritage believes they should have won last time they played us. They’ll be gunning for us now.”
Little Elm earned a 79-69 victory during a Dec. 21 meeting, with Joseph and Bridges combining for 39 points.
With an 18-6 mark on the season and a 7-1 record against 9-4A counterparts, the Lobos control their own fate in the race for the district title. Winning out would assure the team sole possession of the championship and the top playoff seed from the district.
“We respect everybody but don’t fear anybody,” Segler said.
Following tonight’s road meeting with Heritage, the Lobos return home Tuesday to square off against Prosper in an 8 p.m. contest.
Lady Lobos sweep Frisco
The Little Elm girls basketball team earned a season sweep over Frisco on Tuesday by pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 58-47 victory.
Junior Kiara Almonte scored a game-high 22 points in the contest while juniors Hollie Nealy and Jazz Savage added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Lobos had previously won a Dec. 18 matchup for their first district win of the season. Tuesday’s victory improved Little Elm to 2-8 against District 9-4A foes and sets up a 6:30 p.m. road battle against third-place Heritage on Friday.
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