SEALY — The Bellville High School boys basketball team scraped out a win at Tigers Gym Jan. 3 as they defeated Sealy High School by a final score of 42-36.
The game was close for its entire ty with each bucket being crucial for both teams, but Bellville was able to get the last laugh.
“Defensively, get after people,” said Bellville head boys basket - ball coach Mason Loiodice on what they needed to pull out the win.
"Finally start figuring out what they're doing and flying to the ball. The way you win these games, these close, district games, rivalry games, just make your dang free throws and get re - bounds and stops. We didn’t have it there offensively most of the game, but we were able to finish them off at the free throw line.”
Brahmas junior guard Zach Leuschner tallied seven points for the night and took a big shot to the mouth area mid-game, which ended up drawing blood.
Leuschner would get patched up and return to the game to hit two big free throws in the fourth quarter to help propel his team to victory. “I just wanted to be there for my team,” Leuschner said.
“I knew they needed me. I didn’t want to let them down. Af - ter I was able to get it patched up a little bit, I went back out there and told coach I’m ready to go.” Sealy did a lot of good things throughout the match and they still hold an overall winning re - cord. “It was more of a personnel deal right now,” said Sealy head boys basketball coach Cody Car ruthers. "We're trying to figure out who we can play down the stretch and who gets the most minutes. Today was a little bit of a juggle trying to figure that out.
Now we know who we can play in the critical moments and so forth.”
The Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game that was quickly matched with four straight points from Bellville.
A short basket from Sealy right before a three-pointer near the corner by Bellville gave the Brahmas a 9-7 lead after the first quarter.
Both teams traded baskets in the second quarter with a three from Tigers junior guard Ronnie Thrasher, back-to-back baskets from Bellville’s Owen Davoody and Brandon Ward, then a layup and free throw from Sealy that was answered by the Brahmas on an interception from an inbound that turned into a fast-break layup and a 15-13 lead at halftime.
Bellville grabbed as big of a lead as 20-15 midway through the quarter, but Sealy fought back with a free throw and a three-pointer to put it at 20-19.
The Tigers hit two more free throws to take a 21-20 advantage, then it was a shooting contest from the chari ty stripe and the three-point line, which resulted in a tie at 29 at the end of the third quarter.
The begin - ning of the fourth quarter was still neck-and-neck with a bunch of made free throws, but Bellville had the upper hand in makes and gradu - ally stretched their lead in crunch time with two big free throws each from Brahmas 6'3" sophomore cen - ter D.J. Sanders and Ward in the final two minutes to clinch a 42-36 road win.
