by Moses Leos III
A trio of Hays CISD basketball teams received an early holiday gift Friday by claiming key district wins.
The Lehman boys basketball team notched their first district win of 2014, while the Hays Rebel boys basketball team remained unbeaten in district play.
Meanwhile, the Hays Lady Rebels kept up with the top of the pack in district after a week layoff.
Lehman Lobos boys basketball
A game high 11 points from senior forward JaMiah Windom helped Lehman (4-7, 1-2) defeat the Del Valle Cardinals 35-34 on Friday. Senior post Ivan Melendez scored seven points, while senior post Robert Salinas contributed six points.
Both offenses struggled in the early going as Lehman held a 12-11 lead at halftime. Del Valle held a 26-24 lead after three quarters, but the Lobos responded by outscoring Del Valle 11-8 in the final frame.
Friday’s win kept the Lobos from falling into the latter third of the district standings. Bowie and Akins are now the only winless teams in district play so far this season.
The Lobos exit district play with a non-district tilt against St. Stephen’s on Dec. 23, followed by participating in the Boerne ISD tournament on Dec. 29-30. Lehman returns to district play by hosting Austin Anderson on Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lobo Den.
Hays Rebel boys basketball
The Hays Rebels (8-2, 2-0) maintained their unblemished mark in 14-6A by staving off the Austin High Maroons 58-54 on the road.
Senior Jerome Scaturro led all scorers on Friday with 18 points, while senior Chris Gonzalez scored 16 points. Hays junior Jake Krafka contributed seven points.
Hays led Austin 34-24 at halftime and 45-35 after the third quarter.
It now sets up a showdown of district unbeatens Tuesday as the Westlake Chaparrals (7-4, 2-0) visit Bales Gym for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
Hays and Westlake, along with state ranked Lake Travis (15-2, 3-0), are currently the only undefeated teams left in 14-6A. Lake Travis hosts Austin High on Tuesday.
But there will be an added dynamic to Tuesday’s game as former Hays Rebel head basketball coach Robert Lucero returns to Bales Gym. In June, Lucero left Hays to take the head coaching job at Westlake.
Lucero led the Rebels to a 26-10 record and a regional final appearance in his first and only season at Hays in 2013.
Following Tuesday’s game, the Rebels participate in the Westlake Classic on Dec. 29-30 before traveling to play Bowie on Jan. 2.
Hays Lady Rebel basketball
After suffering their first district loss on Dec. 12, the Hays Lady Rebels rebounded by dispatching the Austin High Maroons 47-39 at Bales Gym on Friday.
But on the horizon are the state ranked Bowie Lady Bulldogs (16-2, 5-0), which visit Bales Gym on Jan. 2. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Lady Rebel sophomore guard Choon Hee Chae contributed a game high 14 points against Austin, while junior guard Tara Ramsey scored 11 points. Freshman Gabby Bosquez had nine points.
Hays held a 31-27 lead after three quarters before outscoring Austin 16-9 in the fourth.
The Lady Rebels host Waller High on Dec. 30 before the showdown against the Lady Bulldogs.
Bowie currently sits atop the 14-6A standings as the district approaches the midway point. Bowie is currently the seventh ranked team in Class 6A according to the Dec. 15 Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) state poll.
