5A BOYS BI-DISTRICT: Titans over Tornadoes: Memorial sets up rematch with Shadow Creek

Published 10:40 pm Tuesday, February 19, 2019

PASADENA — Despite being up by double digits for much of the first 23 minutes, Memorial never had its UIL 5A bi-district game with Galveston Ball in the bag until the end.

Ball pulled within four points twice before the defending state champion Titans finally closed out a 51-45 victory at Pasadena ISD’s Weldon “Stoney” Phillips Gym.

“Third or fourth quarter, we just had to execute to keep the lead, and just play defense the whole time,” said center Kenneth Lofton Jr., who had 10 points and four rebounds for the Titans.

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Memorial (25-7) led by as much as 32-19 and was up 34-22 at halftime after shooting 13 of 29 from the floor. But Ball (19-12) made the most of limited shot opportunities in the second half and had pulled within 47-43 and 49-45 before the Titans managed to secure a win.

“The second half, we just came out real flat with low energy, and that’s why [the Tornadoes] made their run,” Memorial coach Alden Lewis said. “Basketball is about runs, but we were able to sustain a lead and finish the game.”

Memorial finished 18 of 48 from the floor and 12 of 20 at the free-throw line. Ball went 16 for 40 from the floor but made 9 of 11 free throws.

The reward for the Titans is getting to play Shadow Creek in the area round for the second straight year. Memorial won last year’s meeting in La Porte en route to its first team state championship in school history.

This time, an almost completely different cast of Titans will get their shot against a Sharks team that was favored to win Region III.

“I understand it was some butterflies, some jitters,” Lewis said. “Overall, they got over it, they got the first win out the way, and I think they’ll settle in and play some ball come Friday.”

Time, date and location for the rematch have not yet been set. But the Titans advanced there by bouncing back from a loss to Barbers Hill for the top seed from District 21-5A. Barbers Hill defeated Crosby in the first game at Phillips Gym on Tuesday.

Nate Clover had 12 points, six rebounds (four on offense) and three blocks to lead the Titans. Jaden Conner had nine points, and Kenneth Washington Jr. connected on two of Memorial’s three-point makes.

Darion Narcisse had 11 points and three rebounds to lead the Tornadoes. Quinton Cooper and Nigel Green each had six points in the loss.

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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