Sabine wins LMS tourney

The Sabine High School boys basketball program hosted, along with West Rusk High School, the Last Man Standing tournament over the weekend, and as it turned out, Sabine was indeed the last man standing.

The Cardinals, ranked fifth in the state at the Class 2A level in the last Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) poll, defeated archrival White Oak, 48-24. Sabine raced out to a 23- 5 lead, never trailed and in fact, led by as many as 27 in the second half.

The Cardinals (17-3) opened the game on an incredible shooting streak, hitting seven consecutive three-pointers. One reason for that was because the Roughnecks were playing a 2-3 zone, leaving Sabine's outside shooters open again and again. The long shot has become the Cards' primary weapon this season, and it seems like all their starters can hit from outside.

Noah Jackson, who was named the tournament's most valuable player, led all scorers with 12 points. Colton Kirk had nine, and all of them came on treys. Jackson hit two of them, as well. Jacob Kenna had eight points, and he hit two three-point shots. Tyler Woodrell also had eight. Lie'Quan Byrd had five, and Hunter Powdrill, Jerrel Chumley and Zach Royce each had two.

Woodrell was also named to the all-tournament team as well. White Oak, led by Connor Sharp with nine points, placed three players on the team.

Sabine, is back in action Saturday at Central Heights in Nacogdoches, tipping off at 2 p.m.

That's the only game featuring a local team this week. Sabine's Lady Cardinals will play in the Leonard Tournament Dec. 29- 31, and both Kilgore High School teams are off until January. Ditto for the Kilgore College programs.