JARRELL – The Taylor Ducks varsity boys basketball team opened district play with a 52-38 victory over the Jarrell Cougars on Friday, Jan. 2 at Jarrell High School.
Sophomore guard Markell Fitzgerald led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting and played a key role on both ends of the floor, helping Taylor set the tone early.
The Ducks built a 10-4 lead in the first quarter by capitalizing on defensive pressure, as multiple steals by Fitzgerald led to fast-break opportunities. Jarrell responded in the second quarter, however, rallying to tie the game at 13 and briefly slowing Taylor’s momentum.
Senior guard Kadrien Deary helped the Ducks regain control with a 3-pointer that sparked an 8-0 run. Fitzgerald capped the surge with a triple to give Taylor a 21-13 advantage heading into halftime.
Taylor carried that momentum into the second half. Fitzgerald opened the third quarter with another 3-pointer to push the lead to 26-15 and later connected again from beyond the arc to make it 32-17. The Ducks followed with a decisive 7-0 run that stretched the margin to 39-17, effectively putting the game out of reach.
While Taylor struggled at times offensively, shooting just 33 percent from the field, it made up for it with strong work on the glass and ball movement. The Ducks outrebounded the Cougars 46-39 and finished with 10 assists compared to Jarrell’s two.
Deary was the only other Duck to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Junior forward Landon Coulter and freshman Elijah Afenkhena each added nine points. Afenkhena also had a standout performance on the boards, leading Taylor with 16 rebounds.
With the win, Taylor improved to 13-7 overall and 1-0 in district play. The Ducks will return to action against Lampasas on Friday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Taylor High School.
