Hornets take win at home

PHOTO BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Bubba Salinas shoots over a defender in the Hornets' home win against Rising Star on Tuesday.

After suffering its only loss of the season against Rising Star in the opening round of the Rising Star Tournament last week, the Lometa boys' basketball team avenged that loss with a 52-33 home win on Tuesday.

The Hornets (5-1) got 14 points and seven defensive rebounds from Brandon Faubion, who has scored in double figures in each of the Hornets' six games.

Joe Michael Rivera had 10 points and five defensive rebounds, Bubba Salinas and David Cruz had nine points apiece, and Eric Belyeu added six points and four steals. Toby Davis scored two points and grabbed seven defensive rebounds, TJ Rolan had two points, and Adam Trejo had four steals.

Because of the Hornets' advancement to the Six-Man Division I football playoffs, the basketball team has been practicing for just two weeks.

"It's forced us to kind of coach on the fly," LHS coach Wendell Bradley said. "We practice one day and play the next. There are times in games where I'll call timeout and put in a whole new offensive set. The kids are doing a great job of picking it up."

The Hornets won the consolation bracket at the Rising Star Tournament after losing the opener 54-49 to the host team. Faubion had 16 points and 15 rebounds in the loss, and Cruz had 11 points and eight assists.

In the second round, the Hornets beat Ranger 47-31. Cruz had 10 points and seven steals, Rivera had 10 points and eight steals, and Faubion had 10 points.

In the consolation finals, the Hornets beat Strawn 51-39. Faubion, who was named to the alltournament team, had 12 points and 11 rebounds, Rolan had 11 points and 11 rebounds, Toby Davis had five rebounds, and Rivera had four steals and four assists.

The Hornets were scheduled to open play in the Central Texas College Tournament in Temple on Thursday.

Ranger Girls 36, Lometa 35: Taylor Bradley scored a game-high 19 points, but the Lady Hornets fell a point short at the Rising Star Tournament.

Maribel Reyes, Maria Jasso and Marcy Garcia scored four points apiece, and Elisha Whisenhunt scored two.

"The girls played a great game," LHS coach Brandy Eckerman said. "It was back and forth the entire time, and they kept fighting. We have been working on hustling and being more aggressive in practice, and it showed in the game."

Lometa JV Boys 50, Rising Star 40: Dalton Parsons scored a gamehigh 21 points in leading the Hornets to a decisive win on Tuesday.

Charlie Wagner had eight points and seven steals, Colt Maldonado had eight points and six rebounds, and James Reyna had three points, four steals and five rebounds.