Tuesday night at home, the Lytle Pirates went on a 17-point run before the West Campus Cougars made the board deep into the first quarter. Lytle was more aggressive and determined to get the ball back to their end of the court. Daniel Aguirre controlled under the basket, he rebounded most of the missed shots and the Cougars could not jump high enough to get past his outstretched arms. The first quarter ended 29-4.
Starting the second quarter with a lay-up, Aguirre dribbled down the court unguarded. West showed motivation in the beginning of the quarter, but bad passes and turn-overs continued from the team. Under a minute left in the half, Lytle was up 49-15, Malakai Castro stole the ball and made a great pass down court to Damien Garcia for the lay-up. Lytle was up 51-17 at the end of the first half.
Coach Hernandez put his starters back in for the third quarter and it took several attempts to get the ball to sink from under the basket but Lytle scored the first six points until the tiny #2 Cougar sank a three-pointer. This shot motivated the Cougars to play with a little more determination, especially when #2 sank another three. Fouled shooting, Castro was sent to the line and he sank both of his free-throws to put Lytle up 68-25. Arms straight up, Aguirre got the rebound under West’s basket and made a long pass to Bryson Duty for the uncontested lay-up.
Playing sluggish in the fourth, West had more problems hanging onto the ball and Lytle capitalized on those mistakes. Up 89-35, Aguirre was passed the ball for an easy dunk. In the last two minutes of the game, Lytle held onto the ball and passed it around to run out the clock and won it 96-35.
Though this game was a blow-out in Lytle’s favor, the Pirates had a chance to get every player off the bench and into the game.
By Dicy Chambers
Sports Writer