A double-digit comeback allowed the Teague boys basketball team to defeat cross-county rival Fairfield, 75-63, last Friday in Teague.
With the win, the Lions snapped a seven- game losing streak to the Eagles dating back to the 2020-21 season.
Teague (10-13, 6-7 in District 20-3A) also needed a win at Westwood or a Fairfield (12-19, 5-8 in 20-3A) loss to Buffalo to clinch its first postseason berth since 2020-21. Both of those games took place on Tuesday.
If the Lions lost and the Eagles won, the two teams would meet either today or Friday in a fourth-place playoff play-in game at a time and site to be determined. Whoever finishes fourth will face District 19-3A champion Lorena in the bi-district round of the Class 3A state playoffs next week.
“We’ve been talking about it being all or nothing,” Teague coach Shaun Moore. “We’re playing playoff-type basketball and have a ‘survive and advance’ mentality. We sat down as a family and talked about what we need to do to accomplish our goal of making it to the region tournament.”
In last Friday’s win, Fairfield jumped out to a 29-16 lead after one quarter of play before Teague started to settle down. The Lions outscored the Eagles, 20-16, in the second quarter to move within single digits, 45-36, of the lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Teague began to take over. Nick Barrentine knocked down a trio of 3-pointers to spark a 22-10 run that put the Lions on top, 58-55, heading into the final quarter.
“The mindset, confidence and communication paid off,” Barrentine said. “After halftime, we came out firing as a team and ready to work.”
In the fourth, Brayden Leija scored 10 points to help Teague put the game away on a 17-8 run. Leija led all scorers with 22 points to go with five steals.
“After the success in football, we were really excited and ready to get to work,” Leija said. “Fairfield is our big rival. We had to get our get-back after playing them the last time.”
Rice recorded his second double-double in as many games with 15 points and 10 rebounds to go with seven assists and five steals. Barrentine (10 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists), Clifford Coleman (9 points), Ke’mauri Evans (10 points) and Joshua Owens (9 points, 7 rebounds) also contributed.
“We learned how to control the clock and play to win,” Moore said. “If we have the numbers, attack. If we don’t slow down and set up the offense. I believe that we’re starting to peak. In the end, you want to start taking off.”
TEAGUE 66, ELKHART 42
Rice recorded a double-double to lift the Lions to a 66-42 victory against Elkhart on Feb. 6, in Teague. Rice had 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Leija also had 13 points for the Lions. Evans (10 points), Coleman (9 points, 7 rebounds) and Owens (8 points) also contributed.
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