Tigers split games in District action

By Joshua Bray

Slatonite Intern

The Slaton Tigers had two hard fought games this past week, defeating the Denver City Mustangs 49-44 Tuesday (Jan. 13) then just barely falling short in a 55-53 loss to Roosevelt Friday (Jan. 17).

“We just got to fight hard the first half,” Coach Stacy Godfrey said after the game.   

The Tigers spent a majority of the game with a small deficit against the Eagles but managed to nearly close it in the second half of the game.

The Tigers were able to narrow the Eagles seven point halftime lead to two points by the end of the game.

Many of the game’s final minutes were decided by fouls and free throws, which in the end left the Tigers coming up short.

“I thought we battled hard,” Godfrey said.

“We kind of waited too late to pick up the pace, to start playing again. When you’re playing a game and you just follow a team 15 points into the first half it’s hard to play catch up. Which we tried to. You know I tell my kids, sometimes you know great teams you can’t battle back, but you got to fight hard.”

Leading scorers were Quevon McDaniel with 16, Treven Baker with 13 and Breadan Gibbs with nine, Hudson Sackett had eight, Kevondrick Gober had six and Camryn Nalley had one.

“We need to work on ball movement on offense,” Godfrey said.

“We got to rotate the ball to get the defense to move. Once we do that, I think we’ll be a great offensive team.”

While Godfrey saw issues that need addressing, he also saw improvement, and believes the Tigers are making progress to become a more well-rounded team.

“Defensively, we’re a lot more energetic on defense. We’re flying around. But you know, it’s like I tell my guys at practice, you got to take that same energy on defense, and put it on offense. It’s got to balance each other out,” he said.

“Right now, our offense is not balanced with our defense.”

Both the boys and girls will again play Friday evening (Jan. 24) against Shallowater away. Games begin at 5 p.m.