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Abilene High basketball swept by Wolfforth Frenship in District 2-6A doubleheader

Jordan Hofeditz, Abilene Reporter-News
·5 min read
Abilene HIgh's Jeremiah Talib (2) goes around a defender for a layup during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship at Eagle Gym. Talib scored a team-high 20 points as the Eagles fell 99-59, playing without a pair of starters.
Abilene HIgh's Jeremiah Talib (2) goes around a defender for a layup during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship at Eagle Gym. Talib scored a team-high 20 points as the Eagles fell 99-59, playing without a pair of starters.

The Abilene High boys basketball team already was facing a tall order with Wolfforth Frenship, the defending district champions and this year's favorite, coming to Eagle Gym.

But without two starters, it was too much to overcome.

Playing without either Kelton Jackson and Hayden Williams, the Eagles (7-14 overall) were unable to keep up with Frenship in the 99-59 loss Tuesday to open District 2-6A play for both teams.

"That's probably not who you want to see on the schedule when you've got two starters out," AHS coach Justin Reese said. "But give them credit, Frenship's a really good team. They've got a lot of kids back from last year. They dictate the game with their defense and their press. We did some good things in spurts, we just didn't do it consistently.

"Frenship did things right for 32 minutes and we didn't."

Wolfforth Frenship's Tate Beeles (35) goes up for a dunk during Tuesday's game against Abilene High. Beeles scored a game-high 35 points as the Tigers ran away with the 99-59 victory.
Wolfforth Frenship's Tate Beeles (35) goes up for a dunk during Tuesday's game against Abilene High. Beeles scored a game-high 35 points as the Tigers ran away with the 99-59 victory.

Abilene High went shot for shot with the Tigers (20-2) to start the game. After Frenship opened the scoring, the Eagles tied the game with each return trip down the court until Jeremiah Talib's 3-pointer gave them the 12-11 lead with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Frenship answered with a three-point play to regain the lead and would start to pull away.

"I thought we did some good things, in the first quarter especially," Reese said. "With them, they're just so streaky. They get a couple turnovers, make a couple easy baskets and you look up and it went from one to 10. It felt like that happened every quarter. You're right there, making some plays and a couple turnovers, couple made shots by Frenship and they extend the lead."

In the absence of Jackson (knee) and Williams (hip), Talib led the way with 20 points while Jake Breckenridge added 13, but it wasn't enough to counter Frenship. The Tigers were led by a 35-point game from Trey Beeles while Jalen Braziel and Tracy Godfrey scored 21 and 20, respectively.

AHS hits the road for the first time in district play Friday, traveling to Odessa High. The Bronchos are coming off a 64-55 win against Midland Legacy in their opener Tuesday.

Abilene High's Sami Kanayo (11) goes up for a shot during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship.
Abilene High's Sami Kanayo (11) goes up for a shot during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship.

Lady Eagles fall to No. 24 Frenship

By the time the Abilene High offense got going, it was too late in Tuesday's 75-22 loss to 24th-ranked Frenship.

The Lady Eagles (5-19, 0-3) were held to two points in the first quarter, and Evelyn Cantu's shot came with 38 seconds left in the frame. AHS scored 15 points in the second quarter, but it was too little too late.

Abilene High's Amyah Starks (23) takes a shot during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship. The Lady Eagles fell 75-22.
Abilene High's Amyah Starks (23) takes a shot during Tuesday's game against Wolfforth Frenship. The Lady Eagles fell 75-22.

"I told the young ladies, our No. 1 key was to not be intimidated," first-year AHS coach Brenda Andress said. "We came out and looked a little bit like deer in the headlights and then finally settled down. I told them, 'You belong here, we've got to start believing that.' I thought from the first quarter to the end of the game we grew and settled down.

"... We have our goals and we're going to keep working and take it one practice at a time, one game at a time."

Up next for the Lady Eagles is a trip to Odessa High on Friday.

Jordan Hofeditz covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jhofeditz. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

DISTRICT 2-6A BOYS

Wolfforth Frenship 99, Abilene High 59

Frenship 23 29 30 17—99

Abilene 17 14 11 17—59

WOLFFORTH FRENSHIP (20-2, 1-0) — Tajavis Miller 3 0-1 6, Doren Williams 0 0-0 0, Jalen Braziel 9 1-1 21, Jake Armstrong 2 0-0 5, Nate Armstrong 1 0-0 2, Lincoln Parrott 0 0-0 0, Dylan Kinsey 2 0-0 4, Tracy Godfrey 8 4-4 20, Chad Pharies 0 0-0 0, Tate Beeles 14 6-6 35, Jamorian Phonix 3 0-0 6, Corbin Gaudy 0 0-0 0. Totals 42 11-12 99.

ABILENE HIGH (7-14, 0-1) — Demarco Upshaw 1 2-2 5, Jeremiah Talib 8 2-3 20, Mario Berry 1 0-0 2, Antoine Rashaw 2 1-2 5, Sami Kanayo 2 0-0 5, Sawyer Moss 0 0-0 0, Austin Wood 1 0-0 3, Jake Breckenridge 5 0-0 13, Chris Motl 2 0-0 6. Totals 22 5-7 59.

3-Point Goals — Frenship 4 (Braziel 2, J. Armstrong 1, Beeles 1), Abilene High 9 (Upshaw 1, Talib 2, Kanayo 1, Breckenridge 3, Motl 2). Total Fouls — Frenship 9, Abilene High 13.Fouled Out — None. Technical Fouls — None.

DISTRICT 2-6A GIRLS

No. 24 Wolfforth Frenship 75, Abilene High 22

Frenship 24 22 22 6—75

Abilene 2 15 4 1—22

WOLFFORTH FRENSHIP (18-5, 4-0) — Abbi Holder 5 1-2 13, Sarah Armstrong 0 0-0 0, Andie Caddel 8 0-0 17, Hannah Harmon 2 0-0 6, Chandler Wilson 5 0-0 12, Mikah Chapman 7 0-2 14, Addison McClure 3 0-0 7, Zaria Fowler 0 0-0 0, Abby Boyce 3 0-2 6. Totals 33 1-6 75.

ABILENE HIGH (5-19, 0-3) — Evelyn Cantu 1 0-0 2, Zikyria Shaw 1 1-4 3, Samia Cooper 1 2-3 4, Shaliyah Christian-Stevenson 1 0-0 3, Myra Thomas 0 0-0 0, Ariana Trevino 1 0-0 2, Amyah Starks 2 0-2 4, Samara Padgitt 0 0-0 0, Grace Jordan 2 0-2 4. Totals 9 3-11 22.

3-Point Goals — Frenship 8 (Holder 2, Caddel 1, Harmon 2, Wilson 2, McClure 1), Abilene High 1 (Christian-Stevenson 1). Total Fouls — Frenship 13, Abilene High10. Fouled Out — None. Technical Fouls — None.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene High basketball swept by Wolfforth Frenship