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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Bryce Martin of the Steers jumps over a Brownwood defender to make a shot near the net during the game Friday, Jan. 31. Both teams brought their all during the matchup but Graham came out on top. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cooper Wilde looks for an open teammate during the matchup Friday, Jan. 31 against Brownwood where the Steers came out on top. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cooper Corley jumps to make a layup shot during the game against Brownwood held Friday, Jan. 31. Corley contributed 10 points in the game overall.
While the Steers’ rematch against the Brownwood Lions had Graham on top for most of the game, both teams were displaying an unwavering ferocity to win.
Brownwood was always in the shadow of Graham and was desperate to overcome the scoring gap all game, but a tight defense and offensive effort brought a 67-52 win for the Steers.
The first quarter was owned by Graham’s Tyler Allen who scored nine of the team’s 16 points on the 2-point shots and a 3-point shot. Also putting points on the board were Bryce Martin, Brodie Martin and Ty Thompson.
The Steers had a seven-point lead moving into the second quarter with the game at 16-9. Brownwood was not going to let that stand and brought their scoring game in the second, putting 15 points on the board.
That scoring would bring them closer to the Steers but Graham had a scoring rush of its own.
Graham had three 2-point shots from Bryce Martin, two 2-point shots and a 3-point shot from Brodie Martin, a 2-point shot from Thomason Burkett and made free throw shots from Corley and Jack McEntire.
The Lions were still only nine points away at halftime with the score at 33-24 and would stay within 10 at the end of the third quarter.
The team managed another 10 points on the board while Corley and Thompson brought 13 points between the two players. With the score at 46-36, the Lions pushed to make a difference in the final quarter.
Both teams brought their A-game as Graham looked to maintain their lead and Brownwood looked to overcome the Steers.
The Steers put 21 points on the board with another two 3-point shots from Allen, two 2-point shots from Nikolas Wankowicz, Jagger Nees, Burkett and Thompson and made free throw shots from Corley, Wankowicz and Nees keeping the lead.
Despite the Lions scoring 18 points during the fourth quarter they could not stop the Steers which had been ahead and had momentum throughout the game.
Leading in scoring for the Steers was Allen with 15 points, followed by Thompson with 11 points, Corley with 10 points, Brodie Martin with nine points, Bryce Martin with eight points, Wankowicz with six points, Burkett with four points, Nees with three points and McEntire with one point.
After traveling Tuesday, Feb. 4 to Mineral Wells the team will take another trip Friday, Feb. 7 for a rematch against Glen Rose.
