Tigers drop game to league leader

SWEENY - The Wharton Tigers lost ground in the District 27-3A race as they dropped a 62-44 decision to league leading Sweeny on the road Tuesday night.

The loss dropped Wharton to 4-2 in district and 13-10 on the season while Sweeny remained perfect against district foes at 6-0. Wharton was looking to get back on the winning track last night as they continued their extended road schedule playing at Royal.

The game was tight early as both teams started slow. Sweeny lead 11-10 after the first quarter but then took over with an 18- 10 second quarter to lead at the half 28-20. Sweeny maintained their torrid offense in the third quarter, outscoring Wharton 21-12. Both teams put a dozen points on the board in the final frame for the 62-44 finish.

Only five Tigers found their way onto the score sheet. The team was led by Jordan Kirschke with 23 while Jonavon Jones squeezed into double digits with 10.

Rounding out the Tiger scoring were Odis Thompson, six; K.C. Curtis, three; and Keemon Jones, two.

Dane Hooker had a game high 25 points for Sweeny while John Williams accounted for 16 points.

Friday night, the boys wrapped up the first round of district play. In addition to Wharton-Royal, Sweeny was at Needville, Stafford at Columbia and Columbus at Sealy. Tuesday night, the second round starts with Wharton at Columbus.

In their first game, Wharton downed Columbus 63-52 at Tiger Gym. In other games on Tuesday's schedule, Columbia is at Sealy, Stafford at Needville and Sweeny at Royal.

The Wharton JV team stayed close for three quarters before posting a big fourth quarter to collect a 43-41 from Sweeny Tuesday night.

Doug Ford led the junior Tigers with 18 on the night while Bobby Browder scored 10 as the team evened its district record at 3-3. Others scoring for Wharton included Loyd Grissom, six; T.T. Johnson, four; Marcus Melton and Reggie Washington, two each; and Joey Jackson, one.

Both teams started slow and were tied at 6-all at the end of one. Sweeny led by a point, 16-15 at the intermission and by three, 26-23 after three. Wharton poured on the offense in the fourth and outscored the home team 20-15.