Cardinals get huge win
Sabine girls lose; will be in playoff game Tuesday
By JASON HEFFNER and MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

MAKE A PLAY - Sabine's Glen Hutchison (left, 22) goes up to block a shot by a Gilmer player. Sabine held on for a 67-65 home win on Friday night.

LIBERTY CITY - After leading by as many as 13 points late in the third quarter, the Sabine Cardinals had to hold off a furious comeback attempt by the District 15-3A first-place team, the Gilmer Buckeyes.

The Cardinals even fell behind 60-58 late in the fourth quarter, but were able to grind out a 67-65 win at home Friday night.

The Lady Cardinals, whose regular season is already finished, took on district rival Spring Hill for the third time since the season began earlier on Friday at Gladewater - that game was to decide which of the co-district champions would get the first-round bye, and who would have to play in Tuesday's bi-district round. Sabine lost Friday's game, 44- 30, and will play Tuesday. The 3A bi-district contest between Sabine's girls and Pittsburg will be Tuesday night at Daingerfield, the News Herald was told.

• Cardinals 67, Gilmer 65 (boys): Lie'Quan Byrd's three pointer from the right wing with just under two and a half minutes to play, gave Sabine a 61-60 lead, and the "Repo Men" never looked back after that. Colton Kirk and Glen Hutchison both scored on break-away layups to help close out the Buckeyes late in the game.

Gilmer's Devane Clark kept the Buckeyes close throughout the fourth period, scoring nine of his 32 points in the final quarter. Jacob Kenna led Sabine in scoring, with 14 points on the night. Byrd went for 12 points, including three three-pointers. Noah Jackson also scored 12 points in the game. Jackson hit a three in the first quarter and also another from beyond the arc in the third quarter.

Sabine jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, going ahead 13-10 on a Jacob Dunaway floater off the glass. However, the Buckeyes closed the quarter out with two straight baskets and led 14-13 after one.

Byrd had the hot hand in the second quarter, nailing two consecutive three-pointers, then connecting on an "and one," scoring the basket and the foul. Sabine outscored Gilmer 26-16 in the second quarter.

Then, as time was running out in the second, Kenna made a 34-foot three pointer at the buzzer before halftime that put Sabine ahead 39-30 at the break.

Both teams scored 17 in the third quarter, and Sabine went into the fourth leading by nine points, 56-47.

Gilmer falls to 13-3 on the season and 7-2 in district 15- 3A. With the win, Sabine is now 26-6 on the year, and 6-3 in district.

Sabine currently remains in third place in the district race. However, if White Oak can defeat Gilmer in White Oak on Tuesday night, the Cardinals and Buckeyes would be in a tie for second place in the district and would be faced with a possible tie-breaker game, much like Sabine's girls played Friday. For that to happen, though, Sabine would also need to defeat 0-9 Mineola on the road Tuesday.

The Cardinals defeated Mineola 71-34 earlier this season. White Oak, Gilmer, and Sabine have all already clinched playoff spots.

• Spring Hill 44, Sabine 30 (girls): Sometimes, you feel like you're playing not only your opponent, but history, as well.

Sabine had a fantastic regular season, winding up with a 9-1 record in 15-3A. But Spring Hill, who has made the playoffs for eight straight seasons, did the same, and beat Sabine by 14 in this game for seeding purposes on Friday in Gladewater.

Now, coach Paul Bell's Lady Cardinals (18-11) will face Pittsburg, tentatively scheduled Tuesday night at Daingerfield.

One reason for the low point total for Sabine was no Samantha Jackson. The senior had been banged up earlier in the week, and Bell held her out of Friday's seeding game.

Cortnee Ryan led Sabine with 11 points. Katy Strange had 10.

For Spring Hill, Krupa led all scorers with 20 points. Teammate Shannon Sanders scored 10.

• Sabine 45, Gilmer 39 (JV boys): Sabine's JV moved into first place in district Friday night with a 45-39 victory over Gilmer.

The Cardinals jumped ahead of the Buckeyes early, taking a 21-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Gilmer would battle back, getting to within four points in the second half, but Sabine led by Zach Royce's 14 points, held on for the win.

Hunter Powdrill added 10, Joshua Montana scored eight, Marc Cunningham had five, Tyler Weatherford four, Chance Haskins and Jerrel Chumley each scored two.

Patton led Gilmer with 24 points.

Sabine's JV boys are now 19- 4 on the season, and will look to close out the season with a district championship if they can defeat Mineola on the road Tuesday.