Bullard three-points Sabine out of 3A postseason
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL/ UIL CLASS 3A AREA PLAYOFFS
By JASON HEFFNER Special to the News Herald

TYLER - It was bombs away early for Bullard, who weathered Sabine comeback just enough in the second half to knock the Cardinals out of the UIL Class 3A playoffs.

The Panthers were "unconscious" from behind the three point line in the first half, connecting on seven threepointers and built a 21-point halftime lead, then held off a furious comeback attempt by the Sabine Cardinals in the second half to win by a score of 60-47 in Friday's area playoff game at the University of Texas at Tyler Patriot Center.

Sabine held Bullard to just three field goals in the entire second half and steadily whittled the lead, all the way down to 10 points in the fourth quarter, 45-55 with just under three minutes left to play. However, Bullard connected on several free-throws late in the game to put to contest out of reach.

Sabine took an early lead, 4-2, on Noah Jackson's left handed lay-up. However, Bullard's Josiah Rosebury and Lance Anding both hit from behind the arc to give the Panthers a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Austin Camp led the Panthers in scoring with 18 points, including three three-pointers, all in the pivotal second quarter. Bullard outscored Sabine 25-9 in the second frame. Anding also hit three times from behind the arc and finished with 13 points for the Panthers.

Glen Hutchison scored a season high 16 points in his last game as a Cardinal to lead Sabine in scoring. Sophmore Colton Kirk had nine points, and Jacob Kenna scored seven. Jacob Dunaway and Jackson each added six, while Lie'Quan Byrd and Tyler Woodrell each contributed two points.

Sabine outscored Bullard 13-8 in the third quarter and then 16-13 in the fourth quarter. However, the first-half deficit proved to be too much to overcome. The Cardinal players stepped up in the second half and got plenty of defensive stops, but then struggled to convert on the offensive end to close in further on the Panther lead.

Sabine finishes the season with an impressive 28-7 record, a win total that hasn't been reached at the school in over 20 years. Seniors on this year's team were: Glen Hutchison, Josh Herod, Jacob Dunaway, Jake Taylor, and Willie Mumphrey.

The Cardinals will be returning six key players next season and will no doubt be a favorite to return to the postseason in the Texas Class 2A playoffs (following a realignment earlier this month based on school enrollment that placed Sabine in the smaller 2A classification).

Bullard (26-7) advances in the playoffs as 3A area champs, and will face the state-ranked Pittsburg Pirates on Tuesday.