Steers open district with huge win over Brownwood

After wrapping up non-district play with a 13-12 record, the Graham Steers were eager to put their abilities to the test against district opponents.

The team was up to the task and more as the Steers opened district play by defeating the Brownwood Lions 76-38 in front of a home crowd Friday, Jan. 12.

The Steers got the game started in one of the most dominant performances they’ve had all season. Brownwood won the tip-off and scored almost immediately to go up 2-0. But then the Lions didn’t score again until there were just 10 seconds left in the first quarter.

Between that first Lions bucket and their second one at the end, the Steers scored 23 unanswered points. Senior Sam Rodgers kicked things off with a 3-pointer assisted by senior Keion Shead. Junior Ty Thompson secured an offensive rebound and putback followed by a 3-pointer from senior Tyson Weaver off an assist from Rodgers.

Shead got fouled and earned some free throws to get himself on the board. The Steers knew they were hot when Weaver stole the ball, set himself up for a 3-pointer and knocked it down easily while getting fouled in the process. He made the free throw to convert the four-point play and the Steers led 20-2 at that point.

Heading into the second quarter, Graham kept things rolling while continuing to stifle Brownwood’s offense.

After allowing only five points to the Lions in the first quarter, the Steers only allowed eight more in the second quarter and led 41-13 at halftime.

Shead and Weaver worked together to handle the bulk of the scoring in the second quarter, with contributions from Thompson and sophomore Tyler Allen, as well. The Steers put together their best offensive half of the season and didn’t seem to be slowing down.

“We shot the ball well, we got the ball inside. Our bigs played really good and we were pretty dominant down low,” head coach Kris Hise said. “It was different people that were doing it, but overall, did a great job executing the game plan and getting it to who we needed to get it to.”

Graham came out a tad slow in the second half while Brownwood played with new energy. The Steers struggled with some missed shots and got into foul trouble on defense. Less than halfway through the third quarter, the Lions entered the bonus and shot more free throws the rest of the way.

After the Steers scored a few points in the opening minute, they went a stretch without a basket before Allen knocked down a 3-pointer off an assist from Thompson. That helped the Steers get back into a groove and they went into the fourth quarter leading 56-30.

The Steers continued to score inside and out even with the lead comfortably in hand. Junior Cash Bowen recorded multiple offensive rebounds in the quarter and scored a few points while freshman brothers Brodie and Bryce Martin each recorded baskets, as well.

As time winded down, Rodgers knocked down his second 3-pointer of the day from the corner off an assist from Bryce Martin and the Steers ran away with the 76-38 win.

Graham had four players finish in double-figures in scoring in this game. Shead led the way with 19 points, followed by Thompson with 14 points, Weaver with 13 points and Allen with 10 points.

The Steers rebounded the ball at a high level throughout the game as Thompson and Shead both recorded nine rebounds and Bowen hauled in seven rebounds.

“We were locked in,” Hise said. “They stuck to their assignments, were locked in and stuck to our assignments and did a really good job of really securing rebounds.”

After a road match-up at Glen Rose, the Steers will return home Tuesday, Jan. 16 for another Friday home game Jan. 19 against Mineral Wells.