Mustangs fall to Comfort

Enrique Martinez goes for a block as Faelan Villarreal gets ready for a rebound.

The Natalia Varsity Mustangs (5-15) dropped a tough non-conference contest at home last week to the Comfort Bobcats 84-38. Despite finishing on an 8-0 run to end the first quarter of action, the Bobcats used their 20-8 advantage to fuel them toward the lop-sided victory.
“We were 1-12 from inside the paint in the 1st quarter and struggled to score most of the game,” Natalia Head Coach Justin Welsh said. “Things got better for us in the 2nd half offensively, but Comfort shot well throughout.”
Comfort was hot from all around the floor including 3-point land where they knocked down 14 on the night, six of which #1 New owned.
After trailing 20-8 after one, the boys in blue found themselves down 53-14 at the half after just a six point effort in the 2nd quarter of action.
In the second half, Daniel Ramirez went to work down-low scoring a combined eight points in the 3rd and 4th quarters as players like Matt Contreras Jimmy Ray Gutierrez chipped in offensively. In the end, the Cats picked up their second victory over the Stangs of the season, 84-38.
“We have got to get off to faster starts and play at a tempo that we are comfortable with,” Welsh said.
Scoring leaders- Ramirez 12, Jimmy Ray Gutierrez 8, Contreras 7, Faelan Villarreal 4 and Julien Armendariz 4.
Upcoming Games- On press night, the Natalia Mustangs were on the road in Dimmit County facing the Carrizo Springs Wildcats. This Friday, the Mustangs open District 30-3A action in Frio County against the Dilley Wolves.
On Tuesday, the high flying #22 state ranked Lytle Pirates (17-1) come to town for a district battle in Natalia. The lone loss for the Pirates is to 4A Pleasanton who is having a great season themselves. Leading the Pirates this season so far is Jorge Holguin (20.3 points per game average) and Jokiah Cruzzi (19.0 points per game average). The Pirates have used their size and speed offensively, especially down low to dominate the majority of their opponents. They are the obvious pick up to this point, to win district unless someone can slow down this offensive machine which is averaging 81.6 per game.
By Eric Smith