The Amarillo High bench explodes with celebration late in the game during the Sandies 72-26 win against Abilene Wylie in the Class 5A bidistrict round Monday at Slaton. [John Moore/ Press Pass Sports]
Amarillo ISD teams stand tall
After waiting out last weeks cold snap, both the Amarillo High Sandies and Palo Duro Dons showed how eager they were to take to the court with impressive showings in their respective Class bidistrict matchups Monday night.
The District 3-5A champion Sandies jumped all over Abilene Wylie in a hurry taking a 24-3 first quarter lead, and never looked back for a 72-26 thumping of the Bulldogs in Slaton.
AHS is now 20-2 overall, and will have a quick transition to the area round when they square off with El Paso Bel Air (17-3) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Seminole.
Junior standout Brendan Hausen paved the way in the victory against Wylie pouring in 15 points, while teammate Chris Dees added 11.
The Dons made the most of making it in as No. 4-seed by taking down District 4-5A champion Abilene Cooper 77-72 in a bidistrict clash at Lubbock High on Monday.
Palo Duro trailed 35-25 at half, but were able to cut the deficit to two points by the end of the third, then outscored the Cougars 22-15 in the final eight minutes.
Senior Jelani Mohamed ignited Palo Duro with a team-high 22 points. Audi Luckey scored 15, followed by Kadden Price’s 14, and Cutter Camps 13.
The Dons (18-6) will now face El Paso Andress (17-4) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Andrews.
No upset this year
Unlike a year ago, the Canyon Eagles took care of business in the Class 4A bidistrict round by rolling over Sweetwater 58-38 on Monday night in Frenship.
Last season the Eagles were stunned by four-seed Perryton in the opening round, but this season Canyon was focused not to let lightning strike twice.
The Eagles cruised the entire way opening up a commanding 36-11 halftime advantage. Sophomore post Kemper Jones did the majority of the damage racking up a game-high 21 points.
Canyon (18-7) advances to the area round to play San Elizario (12-7) at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Odessa High.
Monday’s top performers
Texline’s Noel Lozano scored 26 points to help the Tornadoes to a convincing Class 1A area round win against Valley, 93-35, on Monday at Randall.
Kaden Cleavinger of Nazareth sent the Swifts back to the Class 1A regional quarterfinals thanks to a 19 point effort in an 80-47 win against Hedley on Monday at Amarillo High.
Despite a loss to Floydada in the Class 2A area round, 71-59, guard Colton Millsap poured in 21 points for Gruver. The loss snaps the Greyhounds two-year run to the UIL Class 2A state tournament.
Monday’s boys playoff scores
Class 5A
Bidistrict
Palo Duro 10 25 55 77
Abilene Cooper 11 35 57 72
PD— Jelani Mohamed 22, Audi Luckey 15, Kadden Price 14, Cutter Camp 13. AC— Jernison 25, Reed 16, Cherry 13. Records: Palo Duro 18-6; Cooper 16-7.
Abilene Wylie 3 13 16 26
Amarillo High 24 38 56 72
AW— Bone 6, George 5, Brekke 5. AHS— Brendan Hausen 15, Chris Dees 11. Records: Wylie 9-12; Amarillo High 20-2.
Area round
El Paso Chapin 79, Plainview 67
Class 4A
Bidistrict
Canyon 12 36 48 58
Sweetwater 4 11 27 38
C— Kemper Jones 21, Reid Rousser 7, Joe Shaw 7. S— Foster 15, Carr 10. Records: Canyon 18-7; Sweetwater 12-12.
Class 2A
Area round
Floydada 16 33 54 71
Gruver 17 27 41 59
F— Grone 24, Sonyales 17. G— Millsap 21, Callaway 11. Records: Floydada 21-4; Gruver 13-12.
Class 1A
Area round
Texline 27 45 67 93
Valley 5 15 33 35
T— Noel Lozano 26, Potter 20. V— Hartman 12, Standlee 9. Records: Texline 22-4; Valley 17-9.
Hedley 10 19 33 47
Nazareth 23 43 64 80
H— Harper 11, Booth 9. N— Cleavinger 19, High 15, Dyer 12, Betzen 11. Records: Hedley 16-5, Nazareth 22-9.