The Herald-Zeitung

It’s oft-said that all good things must come to an end, a saying Canyon’s boys basketball team saw become reality Tuesday night.

Bastrop snapped the Cougars’ 57-game win streak inside the Cougar Den, outscoring the hosts in the second and third quarters for a 56-44 victory. Coach Kenny Rotzler’s young team led at halftime and made it close, but in the end couldn’t keep up with the Bears.

“We were up by two at halftime and down by four going into the fourth quarter, but free-throws killed us,” Rotzler said. “We missed a bunch of them — hopefully we’ll have a remedy for that soon.”

Ryan Mead scored 15 points, Steven Blakely added 10 and Sean Dailey and Justin Kanas added six each for Canyon, which got four from Nick Garrison. Canyon (0-2), which committed 15 turnovers in the contest, led 21-19 at halftime.

The Cougars, of course, are rebuilding following last year’s trip to the state quarterfinals and they recently got a big boost with the return of three football players — Kanas, Ryan Flowers and Dustin Foerster.

“We’re going to be looking at for all three of those guys to give us a shot in the arm as far as depth,” Rotzler said.

The Cougars will play at San Marcos at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday.

San Marcos 62, Smithson Valley 34

SMITHSON VALLEY — Ryan Teel scored eight points and Ryan Howard scored six as the Rangers couldn’t get past the Rattlers on Tuesday.

The Rattlers (2-0) led 27-21 at halftime.

“The boys played a great second quarter, holding San Marcos to only three points, but we have to learn to put four quarters together,” Smithson Valley coach R. J. Strauch said. “Give (San Marcos) credit, they hit 10 3-pointers and did a great job shooting all night long.”

Smithson Valley (1-2) will play at New Braunfels at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

MONDAY

Canyon Lake 64, Blanco 36

FISCHER — Christian Pena had 30 points and Dillon Luehlfing had 13 points, five blocks and eight rebounds for the Hawks, who broke into the win column with the program’s first-ever victory.

“The kids played very well. We played with more aggression and enthusiasm,” Hawks coach Jeff Maynard said. “This was a big step for our kids. The hardest win to get is the first one.

“We showed much improvement from our first game and hope to get better each time we step onto the floor. It is always nice to go into the holidays with a win.”

Canyon Lake will host Wimberley at 7 p.m. next Tuesday.

GIRLS

Smithson Valley 41, Kerrville Tivy 36

KERRVILLE — Mallory Meyers shrugged off a dislocated left elbow to post some key baskets and rebounds in the late going, and Megan Turk scored all eight of her points in the final period for the Rangers, who improved to 6-2 this season.

Smithson Valley trailed 30-22 at halftime but outscored the Lady Antlers 19-6 in the final period to pull out the victory.

“We just missed lay-ups and open jumpers — it was completely opposite of what we’d done on Saturday,” Smithson Valley coach Jim Jost said of the Rangers’ shooting, which cooled off after splitting their final two games at the San Antonio ISD tournament.

Meyers suffered her injury in the second quarter and sat out the third before re-entering the contest in the fourth.

“She was really gritty,” Jost said.

Meyers scored 13 points for Smithson Valley, which got six each from Colyn Billeaudeaux and Danielle Blagg and four each by Michelle Reich and Brittany Balcar.

The Rangers have made quite a turnaround from last spring, when they finished 10-20 and tied for seventh in District 26-5A.

“It’s amazing,” Jost said. “We were within an eyelash of (wins) against Sam Houston and Antonian, otherwise we could be 8-0 right now. It’s a different world.”

The Rangers will play O’Connor at 10:30 a.m. on Friday in the opening round of the NEISD tournament at Blossom Athletic Center’s Littleton Gym.

Canyon 59, Dripping Springs 52

Brittani Hackfeld hit six of seven free throws in the fourth quarter and joined teammate Katie Korioth with 20 points in the Cougarettes’ victory.

Canyon (4-4) led 30-24 at halftime but went into the fourth quarter tied at 41-all. But the free throws made the difference in the final stanza.

Joan Friesenhahn scored eight points, Taylor Billingsley added seven and Mariad Cocke had four for the Cougarettes, who will play at Alamo Heights at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.