ANDREW SALMI [email protected]
The Taylor High School boys varsity basketball team was in action Friday, Feb. 2 as the Ducks were edged 66-65 by Caldwell High School at home in a heartbreaking district loss.
Before the game, a quartet of Taylor players was honored for senior night with Treos Richardson, Antonio Torres, Alejandro Randle and Garrett Turner.
Down 18-11 at the end of the first quarter and faced with a 35-27 deficit at halftime, the Ducks kicked it into gear on offense in the third quarter as they trailed Caldwell 46-44. It was a backand- forth contest in the fourth quarter with both teams trading blows.
In the final seconds after the Hornets took a 66-65 lead, the Ducks had the opportunity to win the game on their final possession. Taylor junior T.J.
Whybrew put up a shot that would have given the Ducks the lead and appeared to get fouled. However, a foul was not called by the officials and Caldwell escaped with the one-point victory.
Taylor junior Eli Laurence led the Ducks in a double-double effort with a team-high 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds and two steals, while Richardson also had a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, three blocked shots and two assists.
Torres was also a major part of Taylor’s near comeback with 13 points and four assists, while junior Kylon Harris scored in double figures with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor.
Taylor (10-17 overall, 5-4 record in 4A-District 22) under Head Coach Stephen Gibson is scheduled Feb. 6 to travel to Smithville High School and will remain on the road Friday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. against Austin Achieve High School.
