The Tigers played El Paso Eastwood on Saturday, February 20 at Pecos High School in the 6A Bi-District match up after a long 15-day layoff due to snow, extreme cold and energy conservation. The girls were only able to have one practice in the week prior to the game.

Coach Trent Hilliard said his team started the game “very rusty” and only scored 29 points in the first three quarters.

“We finally got the thing going in the fourth quarter and scored 23 point to overcome a 7-point deficit and win 52-47,” Hilliard said. “Riley Roberts and Airron Gaydon, two of our five seniors on this year’s team, led us with nine points each. Roberts hit a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left and put us in the front to stay.”

Only three days later on Tuesday, February 23, the Tigers faced Keller Timber Creek at Clyde High School in the 6A Area Round match up.

Hilliard said this game all boiled down to who could make their free throws.

“The game was a very physical game against a really good Keller Timber Creek team,” Hilliard said. “Both teams had scoring spurts and scoring droughts as the game went back and forth. Unfortunately, Timber Creek got the free throw line 22 times to our seven and were able to make seven more free throws.”

The Tigers fell to Keller Timber Creek 48-54. Airron Gaydon led the team scoring 15 points on five three-point shots. Addison McClure had nine, and Abbi Holder and Abby Boyce had eight each.

Hilliard said the team’s motto this year was “thriVe,” which means they wanted to progress toward or realize a goal, despite or because of circumstances.

“Our main goal was to win our 5th straight District Championship – and we did that, despite the circumstances of COVID and a shortened season with players in and out due to quarantines. I think we learned how to overcome adversity and focus on what you can control, and not worry about what you can’t.”

Hillard said that he will return eight players next year, after only returning four this year. He said he knows he will have a lot of experience coming back.

“We are losing some great players and some great leadership so that will be an emphasis in the off-season to get things ready for next year.”

Hilliard also received the list of the 2020-2021 2-6A All-District Honors this week. They are listed below:

Coach of the Year – Trent Hilliard - Frenship

Offensive Player of the Year - Airron Gaydon, Senior

Co-Newcomers of the Year – Abby Boyce, Freshman and Abbi Holder, Freshman

1st Team - Addison McClure, Junior

1st Team - Elena Noyola, Sophomore

2nd Team - Zaria Fowler, Junior

2nd Team - Lataviah Miller, Senior

2nd Team - Riley Roberts, Senior

Honorable Mention - Mikah Chapman, Junior

Honorable Mention - Hannah Page, Senior