The Orange Leader

BRIDGE CITY — A critical District 24-4A match-up would bring to a halt a West Orange-Stark Mustangs win streak Friday night as the Bridge City Cardinals were able to out-pace the Stangs, 50-43 at Cardinal Gym.

Despite the loss the once struggling Mustangs have seen a resurgence with the return of several star players but it waqs the Cardinals that had the answer Friday as they have two 24-4A wins over Orange County rivals WO-S and LC-M during the first half of district play.

Both the Cardinals and Mustangs are both now 2-2 in 24-4A play.

Bridge City jumped out early with a 7-0 run that put the Mustangs in a hole that they were never really able to dig themselves out of. Chason Burch, who finished with 11 points, hit a three to open the scoring for Bridge City with Dane Piper handling the business around the boards. Piper finished the night with 13 points to lead all scorers. Thanks to the efforts by K.J. Miller the Mustangs were able to keep the game close and trailed by just one at the end of the first, 11-10.

Hunter Wiegreff hit a shot off the inbound pass to increase the Bridge City lead even further and essentially seal the game for the Cardinals. Wiegreff tallied nine points on the night while Wallace hit seven points for the Mustangs.

Bridge City will now take its momentum on the road to Hamshire-Fannett Tuesday. The Mustangs will regroup and travel across town to face the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears.

 

GIRLS

WEST ORANGE-STARK 51, BRIDGE CITY 48 (OT)

WEST ORANGE — In a nailbiter to wrap up the first half of District 24-4A play Friday night, the West Orange-Stark Lady Mustangs were able to fend off the Bridge City Lady Cardinals 51-48 in overtime in a bruising and physical matchup at Mustang Gym.

WO-S standout Eriel Jordan, who finished with a huge double-double with a game-high 25 points and game-high 17 rebounds, helped seal the game with a crucial layup and Nakaiyah Platt converted an important free-throw to help seal the victory for the Lady Mustangs (2-4 in district) in the waning seconds.

The Lady Cardinals (1-5 in district) trailed throughout most of the game in regulation but managed to tie it with a big fourth-quarter push and almost won it right at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Lady Mustangs snared a 44-42 lead with just 6 seconds remaining after Platt scored inside after a nice pass by Jordan.

However, the Lady Cardinals easily broke the WO-S press and Lady Cardinal guard Bailee Bacon converted an uncontested layup with 0:04 remaining to tie it. Bacon then stole the inbounds pass and barely missed what would have been a game-winning shot as the buzzer sounded.

Bacon scored all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Kassidy Wilbur led the Lady Cardinals with 16 points while Masen Tyler had 11. Carly Fults contributed eight points and a team-high 16 rebounds for Bridge City. Madison Trahan had nine rebounds for the Lady Cardinals while Bacon snagged six.

The Lady Mustangs finished with a 50-45 rebounding edge.

Gabby Robinson tallied seven points for the Lady Mustangs. Platt finished with six points and eight boards while Daisha Broussard had five points and eight rebounds. Adreama Beverly had six rebounds while Betty McDonald had five and Diamond Judge four.

The Lady Mustangs, still in the middle of the playoff hunt, will host Little Cypress-Mauriceville on Tuesday while Bridge City will make the short trek to Orangefield to face the Lady Bobcats.

 

ORANGEFIELD 54, HAMSHIRE-FANNETT 44

ORANGEFIELD — The Orangefield Lady Bobcats wrapped up the first half of District 24-4A play by downing the Hamshire-Fannett Lady Longhorns 54-44 at Bobcat Gym Friday night.

TheLady Bobcats improved to 5-1 in 24-4A play.

Hanna Lowe paced the Orangefield attack with 17 points.

Paris Fregia filtered in 14 points to go along with five assists and four steals. Sabryn Crain chimed in with eight points, 10 rebounds and two assists while Emmi Lummus had four points, four assists and three steals.

The Lady Bobcats will host Bridge City Tuesday.