Athens High School Gymnasium on Friday, March 1, 2024 –
The Shelbyville Dragons varsity basketball team defeated the LaPoynor Flyers in a Texas UIL State Basketball Tournament Regional Semifinal elimination game by a 71-55 point score. The Dragons now stand at 27-7 and they will now face the Beckville Bearcats who hold an identical 27-7 mark at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2024. Beckville beat the #1 ranked Martin’s Mill Mustangs in overtime by a 53-48 score to reach the finals.
Shelbyville trailed LaPoynor 12-8 point midway through the first period and the Flyers still led 16-12 at the end of the first quarter of play. The Flyers held a 25-20 advantage at the midpoint of the second frame but the Dragons took a 34-29 advantage by the halftime intermission. The Dragons led 44-41 going into the final period and grew the three point advantage into a final 71-55 point win by outscoring LHS 27-14 in the final 8-minute fourth quarter.
The Flyers were led by Cort Reid with 23 points, Mann Scott with 15, and Daniel Scott had 12.
The Dragons were led by Eli Ferguson with 19, DJ Barnes 18, Ja’Davian Mathis 15, and Jonavian Mathis and Weston Frick each scored ten points.
After the game Dragons Head Coach Colton Wager said, “I am unbelievably proud of our team’s resilience. I challenged them at halftime to guard the Flyers and to rebound against them. We will need to make our shots tomorrow to compete with Beckville but we will work on a gameplan tonight and then give our best.”
Update : Shelbyville has defeated the Beckville Bearcats by a 48-46 score and has advanced to face Thrall High School in the State Semifinals Playoff next week. Thrall defeated Santa Maria 66-45 in the Region IV Finals.
