The fourth and final Sealy home game last Friday pitted the Tigers and Navasota Rattlers against each other on the basketball court in District 24-4A action and the visitors emerged with a 42-28 victory after a big third quarter.

Sealy fell to 1-2 in district after it beat Bellville on the road last Tuesday by a 47-44 final score that was closer than it seemed, said Tiger Head Basketball Coach Cody Carruthers.

Sealy established a first-half lead and was trying to salt away the last minutes of regulation with a seven-point lead. Although two technical free throws brought Bellville to within three points with 17 seconds left, the Tigers didn’t let the margin get closer than that and secured a rivalry win in district.

Similarly last Friday, the Tigers slowed the pace of the game down and it eventually paid off in the second quarter. The hosts moved the ball for the better part of the frame and it ultimately paid off when senior Logan Eschenburg closed the period with five points, including a three-pointer in the final seconds that left the game tied at 15 points apiece.

“We started in the first a little later that I wanted to, I wanted to start first possession but we had just put it in two days ago, so it’s new to us,” Carruthers said of the slower play Friday. “By the second quarter, we are executing perfectly and it is a beautiful sight.”

However, it was the third quarter that proved to be the difference-maker when Navasota – who locked up first place in district after it cruised to victory over the El Campo team that started its game against Sealy with 33 unanswered points – outscored the Tigers 16-2.

“They are the best team in our district so for us to be poised when two games ago we were not poised, that says a lot,” Carruthers said. “I don’t know how many turnovers we forced but it was fantastic. And I told them it’s a twelvepoint loss, fouled them with eleven seconds when we didn’t need to and that made it a fourteen-point loss, OK. We were down thirtythree to nothing, so the fact that we executed with pressure takes us to next Tuesday against a team (Wharton) that pressures the whole game, so we’re ready to face them.”

After they traveled to face the Wharton Tigers Tuesday, the Sealy Tigers will host Royal as part of another four-game Friday at home to close this week of play as well as the first round of play within District 24.

Entering the homestretch of the first round of district play, Carruthers said he has learned plenty about this year’s team.

“They’re capable of getting something two days ago, practicing it and executing it,” Carruthers said. “Just constantly teaching and they have to be willing; that’s why I say I do love coaching these kids because they are willing and they believe what I’m telling them. Tonight was evident of that.”