Slaton basketball plays Valley
By Melissa McCaghren
Slatonite GM
It may be Thanksgiving, where folks are thinking of a “Butterball,” but the Slaton Tigers and Tigerettes teams were thinking of a basketball, when they played the Valley Patriots Monday evening (Nov. 23) at Slaton High School.
Girl’s Team
The Tigerettes lost a tough match to the Patriots, 48-36.
“(Valley is) a very athletic team. They came out, they’re a very disciplined team and we just didn’t win a lot of the 50-50 balls, so they had more possessions than us and anytime that happens, you’re going to struggle to win games,” said Head Coach Tiffany Potts.
Top scorer was Mary Jo Parker, who scored 14 points on the night. Other scorers were Chloe Griffith, seven; Andrea Moreno, five; Sam Gatica and Layni Claborn each with three points; Emma Muniz with two points and Justyne Zapata and Ty Young with one each.
Even though the Tigerettes lost the game, Potts is seeing strengths in the young, inexperienced team. “We got a lot of kids that are older in age, but are young in experience and every time they step out on the court they’re getting better and that’s all you can ask,” said Potts. “They come to practice, they work, they’re very coachable.”
The team now is preparing for three upcoming games.
“We’ll be on virtual schooling the week after (Thanksgiving), but we’ll still practice and play at the Varsity level,” she said. “(We’re) just trying to get ready. We’re two weeks from the start of District so we’ll come out with three big games against New Deal and Levelland and Estacado after Thanksgiving.”
Boy’s Team
The Slaton Tigers boy’s team competed against Valley Monday evening winning 65-28.
Top scorer was Hudson Sackett with 17 points. Others scoring points were Trevan Baker with 15, Braeden Gibbs with 14, T. Samuels with nine, Elijah Williams with four, Camryn Nalley with three, D’Marcus Trotty with two and Braden Brown with one.
Head Coach Stacy Godfrey said the team has had a slow start, due to several players having been quarantined. “(We) played a couple of games with only six Varsity guys and filling the rest with help from the JV team,” he said. “I think once the team is healthy and we have everyone we should make some noise in our District this year.”
To accomplish that goal, Godfrey is working with the team to improve those areas. “Right now we are focusing on sound fundamental defense, limiting turnovers and improving our (field goal) percentage,” he said. “Our goal is to make it to post season under our terms. I think our team has bonded a lot over the summer and hopefully that will lead right into this season.”
