Steers drop home finale to Burkburnett, season ends at Iowa Park

The Graham Steers faced a tough task in their home finale Friday night at Graham High School. Burkburnett led for all but the opening 38 seconds in an 82-41 victory Friday night.

Ben Williams gave the Steers an early lead with an inside basket at the 7:33 mark of the quarter. The lead was short-lived. Nine straight points propelled the Bulldogs to what amounted to a 32-4 advantage for the remainder of the quarter. Williams added a second basket at the 5:17 mark. The score put the scoreboard at 9-4 in favor of the Bulldogs. A five-point deficit is as close as the Steers could get the remainder of the game. The Bulldogs rattled 17 straight points, led by seven points from Bulldogs’ senior Terrance Newton.

Williams scored on back-to-back baskets in 16 seconds beginning with an assist from Welker Horn at the 2:28 mark. Moments later, Kolby Spurlin provided an assist to Williams after his steal. Williams’ basket at the 2:12 mark kept the Bulldogs at a 26-8 lead. Williams scored all eight of the Steers’ points in the first quarter. The Bulldogs led 32-8 after the first quarter. Newton’s 17 points led the Bulldogs.

“When you play Burkburnett, you know they are going to pressure all game,” Steers coach Kris Hise said. “Coach (Danny) Hix is just such a great coach and he’s been doing it a long time. That’s the style we want to play. With that kind of intensity for the entire game.”

For the rest of the story, see the Feb. 16 edition of The Graham Leader.