LA GRANGE — Leopard boys hoops put on a great showing against a solid Giddings High School team Feb. 3 at Leopards Gym by defeating the Buffaloes with a final score of 54-27. Giddings made some nice plays and moves to the basket, but La Grange’s offense was at near perfection with their drives to the rim and shot making.
“At this point in time in the season, we really cut practices down, honestly,” said La Grange head boys basketball coach David Cooper on how his team has been so in sync.
“They’re really short, to the point. We got a game plan we want. We get a couple things accomplished during practice, we get that done, and we get out of there. I just think that keeps them fresh. So really just shortening practices and focusing in on exactly what we want to do.”
La Grange junior forward Nate Scott recorded 13 points on the night with a lot of nice takes to the basket, recently returning to the starting lineup after a leg injury. “It feels good to come back and help the team out,” Scott said. “Be able to help the team get a win.”
The Leopards took a 6-0 lead to begin the match on an and one basket from Scott and a three-pointer in the corner from senior shooting guard Ty Trlicek. La Grange held Giddings to four points in the quarter while adding a floater from Scott, a left-handed layup from Trlicek, and a three from the wing by senior shooting guard Jacob Chovanetz to go ahead 15-4 at the end of the period.
Giddings senior guard Devin Gossett did almost all of the scoring for the Buffaloes in the first and second quarters while La Grange didn’t lose any ground, with a few free throws from Scott and a three from the wing by La Grange senior guard Eli Roberts at the 2:52 mark in the second quarter, propelling La Grange to a 19-8 lead. Another layup from Trlicek on a nice feed from La Grange senior forward Jaxon Cooper gave the Leopards a 23-10 advantage at halftime.
Trlicek kept his scoring afloat with a three and two free throws in the third quarter, along with a few more baskets from the Leopards, including an and one basket to make the scoreboard read 3316 at the end of the quarter.
La Grange then put in on cruise control in the fourth with the same pace and more scoring to grasp a 54-27 win.
