(Falfurrias, Texas)-The 32-2A Santa Maria High School Cougars (18-10) boys basketball team trailed Port Aransas High School Marlins 24-22 at the half, but the Marlins proved to be too much as they ran past the Cougars 65-43 in the University Interscholastic League 2A Boys Basketball Region IV Quarterfinals playoffs on Tuesday night at Falfurrias High School. The 31-2A Marlins (28-9) will advance to the 2A Region IV Tournament this weekend and will play 28-2A Flatonia (32-4) at 6:00 p.m.
The Cougars, from the get go, found themselves on the rebound after missed shots in the paint, including ten missed layups on fast breaks or drives. The Marlins took advantage of those miscues in the second half pull away with three-pointers by Jaden Harris and Kris Jones. In total, the Marlins nailed eleven three-pointers, four by sophomore Ryan Kuykendall. Jones led all scorers with 16 points and Harris added another 15 points. “I’m proud of team,” said Marlins head coach, Kris Jones. “We played a very good Santa Maria team. They kept it close in the first half with that comeback.”
