Nacogdoches High School, February 23, 2018 –
The Shelbyville Dragons Varsity Basketball Team advanced through the Area round of the UIL Basketball Playoffs by defeating the Pineywoods Community Academy Timberwolves by a 76-68 score. The Dragons, Co-champions of District 22 Class 2A, are now 29-4 for the season. They will move on to the Regional Semifinals where they will face the District 24 Class 2A champion Evadale Rebels. Time and date will be announced later this week.
The Dragons struggled early when the Timberwolves jumped out to an early 9-2 lead. A 3-point bucket by Dragon Kutrick Allen pulled Shelbyville to within 9-5 with four minutes left in the first quarter. Pineywoods Academy went on a 5-0 scoring run which gave them a 14-5 lead with three minutes left in the opening frame. By the end of the first period the Timberwolves lead had grew to 24-10.
The second period saw the Dragons outscore the Timberwolves 25-13 and Shelbyville went into the halftime break trailing 35-37.
The Dragons held Pineywoods to only nine points in the third stanza, while they scored 19 points themselves. Shelbyville took a 54-46 advantage into the final period.
Eleven points by sophomore Jordan Boykins, and nine points by sophomore Jakevion Buckley, proved to give the Dragons the boost they needed to match the ‘Wolves 22 points in the final period, and they held on to their lead until the final buzzer.
Jakevion Buckley led the Dragons with a game-high 27 points. Teammate Cole Ferguson chipped in 18, Jordan Boykins 17, Ryan Bailey 10, Kurtric Allen and Buddy McClelland each scored two points.
Pineywoods Community Academy was led by MaRozzney Houser with 26 points.
Shelbyville Head Basketball Coach David Schmitt said, "We got intimidated a little bit early but I told the kids let's drive to the basket. We got the ball inside and did better. We made some key free-throws down the stretch and were able to hold on late. We are proud of our kid's effort."
