The West Orange-Stark Mustangs used an 18-point run in the third quarter to take command of their district game Friday night at the Mustangs’ gym. The outburst proved to be the difference as West Orange-Stark defeated the Bridge City Cardinals 69-56.
Ironically the two teams actually matched each other’s scoring in three of the four quarters during the contest. The decisive third period saw the Mustangs out score the Cardinals by 13 points.
The victors were led by their star forward Terron Brown who claimed high scoring honors as well as making several key steals that were converted into fast break baskets by West Orange-Stark. Brown pumped in 28 points and had half a dozen steals in the victory.
Tied at 30 to start the second half, Bridge City took the lead early in the third quarter on a bucket by Beau Martin. It would be the Cardinals last lead of the game.
The next six minutes would see the Mustangs force seven Cardinal turnovers and score 18 straight points to take a 48-32 advantage with 1:30 left in the period. Brown gave WO-S the lead 33-32 with a bucket and then sinking one of two free throws. Two steals led to baskets by Nakai Arnold and the momentum was rolling for the Mustangs.
A field goal by Ethan Oceguera finally stopped the bleeding for the Cardinals. Grant Boudreaux hit a late three-point basket to get Bridge City back to 13 points down 52-39 going to the last quarter.
The Cardinals scored the first four points in the fourth quarter. Boudreaux hit his second trey of the game to close the gap to eight, but it never got closer. Brown symbolically slammed the door on the win with his second jam of the game to give the Mustangs a 60-46 advantage.
Three other Mustangs joined Brown in double figures. Arnold scored a dozen, Bjan Arvie tallied eleven, and off the bench Darryl Bowens tossed in ten.
Bridge City had balanced scoring showing four players also in double figures. Oceguera was the top scoring Cardinal with 14, ten of those in the final period. Martin, Boudreaux, and Noah McFarland all scored ten points for the Cardinals.
The win keeps West Orange-Stark ahead of the pack for the fourth and final playoff position. The Mustangs are 3-3 in district. The Cardinals drop to 1-5 in district play.
Tuesday will be a bye for the West Orange-Stark Mustangs. They resume play next Friday at Silsbee against the defending state champion Tigers. The Bridge City Cardinals are at home next Tuesday against the Silsbee Tigers before traveling to Hamshire Fannett next Friday.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
BC 14 16 9 17- 56
WOS 14 16 22 17- 69
Social Media