WEST FORK --West Fork turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter to rally for a tough 51-45 victory over Haas Hall on Tuesday night in the Tigers Dome.
The Tigers also found out a few minutes later they had locked up the 3A-1 West Conference title thanks to Lavaca's win over Mansfield. West Fork closes the regular season by hosting Mansfield on Friday.
How They Scored
Girls
West Fork 62, Haas Hall 25
Haas Hall^8^9^2^6^—^25
West Fork^17^17^21^7^—^62
Haas Hall (3-20, 0-11): Saitta 13, Rainey 4, Johnson 4, Tidwell 2, Morrison 2.
West Fork (17-9, 7-4): Griffin 18, Smith 15, Karnes 10, Throgmorton 6, Greenlee 6, Cartwright 3, Tomlinson 2, Kutz 2.
Boys
West Fork 51, Haas Hall 45
Haas Hall^15^15^5^10^—^45
West Fork^10^10^7^24^—^51
Haas Hall (15-12, 7-4): Browne 11, Maddock 9, Torbert 9, Reber 7, Moye 6, Kisor 2, White 1,
West Fork (16-8, 9-2): R. Roebke 22, C. Roebke 17, Crawford 5, Hays 4, Johnson 3.
Guard Ryan Roebke poured in a game-high 22 points and sparked a 9-0 fourth-quarter run that gave West Fork the lead, then made 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 39.2 seconds to put the game away.
West Fork coach Cody Vaught said his team struggled to make an outside shot to loosen up Haas Hall's matchup zone, but Roebke's energy and defense helped turn the tide. He also acknowledged that when Haas Hall's Lemuel Reber fouled out with 3:37 left.
The Mastiffs still led 39-36 when Reber went to the bench, but five quick points gave West Fork its first lead since 2-0.
Cody Roebke, who was also in double figures with 17, scored inside to get West Fork within 39-38. The Tigers then forced a five-second call and Ryan Roebke drained a 3-pointer for the Tigers' first lead since 2-0.
"We changed two things in the second half and, number one, was we put more pressure and when Reber fouled out was big," Vaught said. "He's the best player in our league. Ryan attacked so well and getting transition baskets is easier than making shots. Once that lead got cut to three, you heard how loud it got in here.
"They fed off the energy in the Tiger Dome tonight."
Haas Hall coach Basil Seymour-Davies said the Tigers' defense and Reber, who finished with just seven points, fouling out played major parts in the loss.
"They definitely upped the pressure and got us frazzled," Seymour-Davies said. "Some of our lack of experience showed up there toward the end. Lemuel just adds so much to the team when he's on the floor and we really, really missed him."
Tyler Brown was the Mastiffs' lone player in double figures with 11. Caleb Maddock and Isaac Torbert had nine each for Hall Hall (15-12, 7-4).
Haas Hall plays host to Lavaca on Friday.
Girls
West Fork 62, Haas Hall 25
The Lady Tigers outscored Haas Hall 21-2 in the third quarter to pull away for the big 3A-1 West win.
West Fork (17-9, 7-4) led 34-17 at halftime, but put the game out of reach with a 12-0 spurt to start the second half.
Holly Griffin led four West Fork players in double figures with a game-high 18. Dara Smith added 15 and Olivia Karnes 10.
Angela Saitta led Haas Hass (3-30, 0-10) with 13.
Paul Boyd can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulB
Sports on 02/11/2015