Lions compete with Liberty Hill, Hays in district play

By Colin Hart                         

     The Lockhart Lions boys’ basketball program continued district competition with games against Liberty Hill and Hays, showing improvement and effort as the season moves forward.

     On January 28, Lockhart hosted Liberty Hill, with only the varsity teams playing due to weather. The Lions fell 82–39 against a strong Liberty Hill squad that currently sits near the top of the district standings. Lockhart struggled early as Liberty Hill came out hot, including a 19-point first quarter from their point guard. Head coach Collin Hart said once Liberty Hill gets into a rhythm offensively, they are very difficult to slow down. After halftime, Lockhart made adjustments and responded with a much stronger third quarter, outscoring Liberty Hill 14–12. Hart said he was proud of the increased effort and intensity in the second half and hopes it carries over into upcoming games.

     Senior Tyler Kelley led Lockhart with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Senior DJ Anthony added 12 points and 6 rebounds, while freshman Demonte Anthony contributed 8 points.

     On January 30, the Lions traveled to face Hays in another district matchup. The freshman team picked up a dominant 63–30 victory, while the JV team battled but fell 50–38.

    In the varsity contest, Lockhart showed improvement with a stronger start than in recent games but ultimately fell 59–37. Hays’ size created challenges on the boards, leading to multiple second-chance scoring opportunities. Lockhart played solid defense but struggled to finish possessions with rebounds. Offensively, the Lions focused on pushing the pace in transition to score before defenses could get set. Lockhart finished strong with an aggressive fourth quarter, creating defensive pressure and earning trips to the free throw line, though missed free throws limited the comeback effort. Hart said he remains proud of the team’s work ethic and consistency in showing up ready to compete.

    Senior Tyler Kelley paced the Lions with 12 points and 6 rebounds. DJ Anthony added 11 points and 2 rebounds, while junior Niko Martinez chipped in 7 points.

    The Lions will be back in action this upcoming Tuesday, Feb. 3, at home against Cedar Park. The program looks forward to seeing fans back in the Lion’s Den for another district matchup.