McLeod basketball wraps up season

McLeod’s basketball programs have been on the rise and this year was as solid as they come.

Both the Lady Longhorns’ and Longhorns’ teams finished district undefeated this year.

For the boys’ squad it was its second consecutive undefeated district championship.

As good as the season was it ended for both teams sooner than wanted.

Longhorns

McLeod 85, Quinlan-Boles 39

The Longhorns won its bi-district matchup with Quinlan-Boles, 85-39, at Paris High School Feb. 22.

McLeod went up, 18-8, in the first quarter and outscored the Hornets 21-8 in the second frame which set the score at, 39-18, going into halftime.

A dominating 27-5 run in the third stanza put McLeod up, 66-21, going into the final quarter.

Quinlan-Boles put up a better fight in the fourth quarter than it did in the three previous and McLeod still outscored the Hornets 20-18.

Keldyn Schubert nearly outscored the Hornets by himself as he racked up 33 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, added six steals and seven assists.

Nos Gryder had 14 points with six steals, Tyler Williams posted 11 points, Casey Smith 10 and Silas Murdock seven.

The ’Horns were lights out from the charity stripe as they knocked down 27-of- 31 shots on the night.

McLeod 43, Lindsay 38

The Longhorns (20-5) wrapped up the area crown after topping Lindsay, 43-38, at Prairiland High School Feb. 24.

The score was close coming out of quarter one as McLeod held on to a, 12-11, lead, but the Longhorns used a 15-4 second quarter run to take a, 27-15, lead at the break.

The Knights outscored the ’Horns 23-16 in the second half to make it close.

Keldyn Schubert earned his second double-double of the playoffs after recording 17 points with 12 boards, Casey Smith had 12 points and Nos Gryder notched four.

McLeod 54, Wolfe City 60

McLeod’s season ended much earlier than anticipated as they took a, 60-54, quarterfinal loss to Wolfe City Feb. 26.

Wolfe City was the third place team coming out of its district.

I have no stats for the game but on paper state-ranked McLeod was the better team, and turned in another unforgettable season.

Lady Longhorns

McLeod 66, Quinlan-Boles 60

It was an ironic coincidence that both the Lady Longhorns and Longhorns drew Quinlan-Boles in bi-district play of the state playoffs.

What wasn’t ironic is that both teams won over the Hornets.

McLeod fought off a furious comeback bid by Quinlan-Boles and won the contest and first round crown with a, 66-60, win over the Lady Hornets at Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill High School Feb. 12.

Ella Lambeth burned the nets up with a 30-point performance, Kaitlyn Cross added 14, Cary May nine and Sibbie Comer seven.

McLeod 48, Alvord 75

The area round was a tough one as the Lady Longhorns lost to Alvord, 75-48, Feb. 21, at Paris High School.

It was unusual to see the Lady Longhorns on the other side of a lopsided quarter but Alvord posted a, 23-6, lead after the first frame and had a, 45-17, lead at the half.

McLeod outscored the Lady Bulldogs in the second half, but the first half deficit was too great to overcome. Kaitlyn Cross scored 17 points, Ella Lambeth 10, Rielyn Schubert eight and Sibbie Comer six.

Although the season ended much earlier than anticipated the Lady Longhorns did turn in a memorable season.