Shelby County basketball playoff action

CENTER ROUGHRIDERS

Boys The Center Roughriders ended their district schedule tied for the number one seed with Tyler Chapel Hill. To declare a district champion, the two teams elected to play a tiebreaker game. Center ultimately walked away on top with a 58-54 victory. Emonte Cross’s 18 points along with 14 points from Marmar Evans helped boost the Roughriders to district champion status.

On Tuesday, the Riders opened the playoffs with a nailbiter against the Madisonville Mustangs. Center battled through the adversity and earned a 63-62 win in a game that truly came down to the wire.

SHELBYVILLE DRAGONS

Boys The Shelbyville Dragons defeated the Gary Bobcats 52-37 Tuesday of last week. This marked their last district game. The Dragons finished in third place within a tightly contested District 23-2A. Shelbyville then played a warm-up game with the Hemphill Hornets that they would, unfortunately, lose 59-56.

Shelbyville bounced back after their warm-up game mishap and walked away with a 56-36 victory over the Woden Eagles in Cushing. The Dragons will now face District 212A Champion Hawkins for round two of playoff action.

TENAHA TIGERS

Boys Tenaha began last week with a win over the Joaquin Rams to solidify their fourth-seed position within District 23-2A. Tenaha finished district play with a 97-61 win and a 6-6 record. Tenaha then played Quitman in a warm-up game that would result in a 60-40 victory for the Tigers.

Tenaha rode the momentum from last week to a 67-51 win over the Corrigan Camden Bulldogs in round one of playoff action despite facing the district champion of District 24-2A. If anyone needed proof that District 23-2A is built differently, they need only look at the results of the bi-district round of playoffs where District 23 pulled off a clean sweep of District 24.

Girls The Tenaha Lady Tigers have already cashed their ticket to the regional semi-finals. Their bi-district round resulted in an 85-33 win over the Broaddus Lady Bulldogs. Next, the Lady Tigers faced Union Grove and sailed to a 58-15 victory.

Monday night, Tenaha notched their most recent victory. The Lady Tigers breezed by McLeod in a game that resulted in a 63-18 final. Tenaha will now face off against 2A powerhouse Martins Mill on Friday, February 24.

TIMPSON BEARS

Boys After earning the top position in District 23-2A, the Timpson Bears absolutely dismantled the West Sabine Tigers in round one of playoff action. Timpson would send the Tigers home with a 108-42 drubbing.

Girls The Lady Bears’ season has come to a close following their defeat at the hands of the Douglass Lady Indians. Timpson earned a 75-57 victory in the first round against the West Sabine Lady Tigers, but ultimately fell to Douglass 45-23.

Shelbyville’s JaDavian Mathis drives the ball down the court during their earlier district matchup with the Joaquin Rams. (File photo by Colton Bragg)