This time, the Hornets' best is not good enough

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Huntsville senior Kriston Minor flips a no-look pass to one of his teammates during the second half of Monday’s bi-district playoff game against Brenham. Minor scored 15 points but fouled out midway through the fourth period. The Cubs hung on and beat Huntsville 67-60. Tom Waddill
Huntsville teammates Abram Veasey (25) and Malik Brown sit helplessly on the bench late in the fourth quarter Monday as time winds down on the Hornets’ basketball season. Brenham jumped out to a big lead in the bi-district playoff contest, and try as they might, the Hornets could not even the score. The Cubs advanced to the area round of the Class 4A state playoffs with a 67-60 victory over rival Huntsville. Tom Waddill

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February 21, 2012

Cubs take big lead, then answer every punch thrown by game Huntsville group

By Brandon K. Scott Staff Reporter The Huntsville Item Tue Feb 21, 2012, 12:05 AM CST

BRYAN — Much like Huntsville’s regular season, the Hornets never quit fighting in Monday night’s bi-district playoff loss to Brenham.

When Brenham when on its runs, the Hornets rallied. When Huntsville seemed to be put away by faster and more athletic players, there the Hornets were saying, “not so fast.”

In the end there just wasn’t enough in the tank for Huntsville to outlast Brenham as the Cubs prevailed 67-60 to advance to the area round.

“It wasn’t a lack of effort,” Huntsville head coach Larry Carlson said of the loss. “I thought tonight was a mirror image of our season. We never quit, kept fighting, kept scratching, kept clawing. Basketball-wise, we’re not the most talented, but I’ve never seen a group of guys play harder.

“I’m proud of our group.”

Brenham opened the game in a full-court press off the first made basket, which was a 3-ball by senior Tre’mund Moore. Huntsville wasn’t exactly ready for that look, since on film Brenham showed its press later in games.

Hornet senior Kriston Minor said he figured the Cubs would come out pressing because that’s what they did in the very same playoff matchup last year. But Minor was the only one who anticipated the press.

“We weren’t expecting it,” junior Kaleb Branch said after the game. “We did poorly holding against the press,so we just had to adjust and regroup.”

Brenham led 26-15 after the first quarter, as Moore and point guard Darrion Johnson combined for 21 of those points in the opening period.

The Hornets countered in the second quarter by outscoring Brenham and only allowing 12 points. That’s when Branch hit two of his four 3s in the game, while Minor took over defensively. The senior had back-to-back defensive possessions where he picked the pocket of Brenham’s ball-handler and raced down the other end for easy baskets.

“The underclassmen sparked us,” Minor said. “They’re starting young on varsity like I did and they are going to be really good for this program in the future.

“We felt like we had the momentum at halftime.”

Every time Huntsville gained momentum, Brenham was there to shut it down.

Junior Cole Rodriguez hit a 3 to start the third quarter, which brought the Hornets within four. Then there was Johnson again, extending Brenham’s lead back to seven points with a 3 of his own.

Later in the period, Branch hit his fourth 3-ball of the game to pull Huntsville within six, but Cubs guard Dean Haveman responded with another Brenham 3.

For a team that seemed bothered by the Cubs’ 1-2-2 zone defense, the Hornets sure did test their limit.

“When you have kids as athletic as Brenham’s running a zone, it’s going to be hard to score,” Carlson said.

The same Hornets that were on the verge of missing the playoffs, but regrouped at the end of the regular season to win four of their last five district games, went out swinging.

Even with junior post Forrest Reedy on the bench with a twisted ankle for much of the second half, and with Minor on sidelined after fouling out with 3:20 left to go in the game, there was no quit in Huntsville.

The Hornets ended their season on an 11-4 run as time expired.

“I feel like if we played another quarter, we would’ve still been in it,” Carlson said.

Minor was emotional after the game because his experience as a Huntsville basketball player had come to an end with him fouling out of the game.

Still, Minor finished with 15 points and four steals that kept Huntsville competitive throughout the night. Branch scored 16 points for the Hornets.

Johnson, who Carlson said appeared to be a total non-factor on game film, led the way for Brenham with 19 points.

Huntsville finished the season 7-7 in district and 11-19 on the season.

“It hurt deeply,” Minor said of his final minutes as a Hornet baller. “The sound of the final buzzer just killed me. I’d give anything to have it back.”

Brenham (27-5) awaits the winner of today’s game featuring Beaumont Central and C.E. King.

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This time, the Hornets' best is not good enough

Cubs take big lead, then answer every punch thrown by game Huntsville group

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