Lions open basketball season with wins

By Alonzo Garza

POST-REGISTER

Lockhart opened their 2011-2012 Lion Basketball season with solid wins against Austin’s Eastside Memorial at the Lion’s Den on Tuesday, Nov. 15. The Varsity Lions defeated the Eastside Panthers 72-58. The Junior Varsity Lions won with a score of 64-15 while the Freshman Maroon team started the nights’ winning streak wit

h a 65-11 win over the Panthers.

“Lucas was huge on both ends of the floor,” Lion Head Basketball Coach James Halatin said after the Varsity game. “He was talking on defense and working the inside of Eastside’s zone. I thought he and the team showed a lot of patience through most of the game, offensively. It is a testament to the guys in their first game of the season.”

The Varsity Lions jumped into the first quarter with enough confidence and energy to gain an early lead over the Panthers. According to Halatin the Lions used an aggressive defense and a patient offense against the Panthers’ zone.

The Lions were able to push their lead up to a 25-point spread at the middle of the third quarter, before the Panthers pounced back to cut the deficit down to eight points.

The fourth quarter ended with the Lions putting the Panthers away with a solid 72-58 win.

“Defensively, the team was all over the floor in the first half,” Halatin said. “They really worked hard on our changeups and calls to turn the Panthers over often.”

The Lion offense was led by senior Michael Kerr’s efforts early in the game and senior Lucas Westbrook’s game-high 37 points.

Seniors Abel Gonzales and Brandon Ramirez led the defense. Both Lions kept getting tips and steals throughout the entire game.

The Lions played at home against Belton on Friday, Nov. 18 and hosted Travis on Monday, Nov. 21 and will be on the road for the rest of the Holiday Season. The next home game will be against Schertz Clemens on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

See you at the game.

agarza@post-register.com