Hornets seek playoff berth

PHOTO BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Brandon Faubion, left, and Bubba Salinas attempt to grab a rebound in the Hornets' 52-41 loss against Richland Springs.

The Lometa High School boys' basketball team is about to embark on what head coach Wendell Bradley calls, "The put up or shut up tour."

Basically, the tour consists of Lometa's three remaining district games -- games which the Hornets must win to grab a playoff spot in District 29-1A Division II.

The Hornets (4-4 in district) lost to Richland Springs, 52-41, last Friday and beat Cherokee, 62-32, on Tuesday. They are scheduled to play host to Lohn tonight before traveling to Rochelle on Tuesday and closing out the season at home against Eden next Friday.

"We're in fourth place right now, and we've got to beat Lohn and Rochelle just to force a tie with Rochelle," Bradley said. "We played well in losses to Eden and Richland Springs and played a solid game against Cherokee, so we're playing pretty good basketball right now," Bradley said. "I just came in and told our seniors and everyone else: It's time to put up or shut up."

PHOTOS BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Toby Davis tries to out-rebound three Coyotes in the Hornets' 52-41 loss against Richland Springs Friday night at Lometa's home court.

In the loss to Richland Springs (8-0 in district), Brandon Faubion scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, TJ Rolan recorded eight points and six rebounds, and Joe Michael Rivera registered seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

In the win against Cherokee, Dalton Parsons scored all 12 of his points on 3-pointers. Rolan, Faubion and Justin Dixon scored eight points apiece, and Dixon also had five rebounds and four assists. Toby Davis and Bubba Salinas added six points apiece.

Lometa Girls Basketball

The Lady Hornets lost 72-43 against Richland Springs on Friday and 62-46 against Cherokee on Tuesday.

Against Richland Springs, Taylor Bradley led the team with nine points, Jeanette Rosales scored seven, Patricia Viera recorded six and Cassidy Wienecke, Kylie Bradley and Marcy Garcia scored five apiece.

Lometa's Joe Michael Rivera scrambles for a loose ball in the Hornets' loss to Richland Springs. Next up for the Hornets is a game tonight against Lohn.

Against Cherokee, Maria Jasso scored 15, and Taylor Bradley registered eight, including a 3-pointer. Garcia scored four points, and Rosales and Maribel Reyes added three apiece.

Lometa's David Cruz tries to avoid the Richland Springs defense in a losing effort. Nayla Rosales attempts to find an open Lady Hornet in a 72- 43 loss on Friday to Richland Springs.