Hayes, Bobcats hold off stubborn Milburn

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Hayes, Bobcats hold off stubborn Milburn
Van Wade
The Orange Leader

ORANGEFIELD — Leaning on 33 superb points by senior Zach Hayes, the Orangefield Bobcats took down stubborn Richard Milburn Academy 58-54 in the Orangefield Tournament while the Bridge City Cardinals downed Sabine Pass 68-59.

The semifinals today will pit Orangefield vs. Bridge City at 9 a.m. and Port Neches-Groves vs. Milburn Academy at 10:30 a.m. The third-place game will be at 1:30 p.m. and the title game will be at 4:30 p.m.

Hayes burned the Wildcats with slick drives into the paint all night long and Milburn simply had no answer. Hayes opened the game with 11 points in the first period and poured in 12 more in the critical fourth period as the Bobcats (6-2) held on for the win.

Milburn relied on the tough play of Charles Francis and Marsel Davis and a 35-23 rebounding edge to keep the game close throughout.

Francis had a big double-double, tallying 15 points while snatching a game-high 15 rebounds while David added 15 points and five boards. Patrick Lewis added 10 points and five rebounds for the Wildcats.

Luke Gunstream scored 10 huge points inside for the Bobcats while Derrick Evans contributed eight points.

The Bobcats forced the Wildcats into 16 turnovers while only committing 11. Orangefield was 9-of-17 from the free-throw line while the Wildcats were 2-of-5.

The Cardinals held back Sabine Pass, despite suiting out just six players after having a couple players suspended for the game.

The Sharks (2-6) had problems controlling the Cardinals” “Twin Tower” duo of Tanner Girouard and Nate McAnelly.

Girouard led the Cardinals (4-7) with a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds while McAnelly sported a double-double of his own, notching 15 points while yanking down 16 rebounds.

Point guard Zach Heinze contributed 15 points and nailed 11-of-17 free-throw attempt.

Felix Jones was outstanding for the Sharks, pouring in a game-high 31 points to go along with 15 rebounds. Taylor Gant had 13 points while Nigel Wasson contributed seven points and nine rebounds.

The Cardinals utilized a 23-11 spurt in the second period to grab a 35-24 halftime edge.

The Sharks rallied all the way back to get within 54-52 and then the Cardinals found enough energy to finish the game out with a 14-7 surge.

The Cardinals finished with a 39-33 rebounding edge. Bridge City had 20 turnovers while the Sharks had nine.

Tanner Hogan added eight rebounds for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals went 25-of-34 from the free-throw line while the Sharks were 5-of-11.