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Elgin’s varsity boys basketball team couldn’t recover from a slow star t, falling 58-47 to the Belton Tigers Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Trailing 20-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm, settling for contested jump shots during the opening stretch.
Head coach Dav id Wilson pointed to a lack of early poise as the key factor.
“From the very beginning, we weren’t confident, and it’s all about confidence when you start the game,” Wilson said. “They were bigger than us at almost every position, so I think we might have been a little tentative.”
Elgin’s offense came alive midway through the second quarter with an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from junior guard Tyson McFarlin, who led the Wildcats with 16 points. The surge trimmed the deficit to 22-15, but Belton quickly countered with a run of its own, extending the lead to 33-17 at halftime.
McFarlin opened the second half with another 3-pointer to cut the lead to 33-20, but the Tigers pushed their advantage to 37-20 — their largest margin of the night.
Ref us ing to bac k down, the Wildcats went on another 8-2 run behind contribut ions from McFarlin, senior forward Braylon Rodriguez and senior guard Amar Bermudez, narrowing the gap to 39-28.
The teams traded baskets throughout the third quarter, seeing Elgin enter the fourth down by 12. McFarlin’s layup to start the final period brought the Wildcats within 10 at 47-37, but they couldn’t close the gap further as the Tigers secured the win.
Despite the loss, Wilson commended his team’s effort.
“I don’t think we ever gave up,” he said. “Anytime you can compete against really good teams, that’s the only way you learn how to perform against higher- level competition.”
Senior center Jonathan Richard contributed 10 points, while Bermudez added six on the night.
The Wildcats will take a holiday break before returning to action in the Hays Tournament Dec. 27-28.
Elgin Wildcats senior center Jonathan Richard contests a 3-point shot as junior guard Tyson McFarlin looks on during a 58-47 loss to the Belton Tigers Dec. 17.
Photo courtesy of Larry Pelchat
