GRADY – With their backs against the wall, the Grady Wildcats had to win their final two games of the district season to have any hopes of making the playoffs.
The first must win was a Valentine’s Day matchup with Midland TLCA. Grady executed to perfection and ruined TLCA’s sweet night with a 70-31 drumming.
Blaise Warren finished with a game high 14 points and Jackson Welch added 13.
Cooper Sims dropped 12 points and Brendan Pelletier tossed in 11.
Gunnar Rivas scored seven points followed by Stetson Foster with five, Cobe Cortez four, Franki Jimenez two and Austin Snider two.
“The kids played well, and all 13 players got to play some quality minutes,” stated Grady coach Chris Short.
The final game of the season and second must win game was against Sands.
Grady opened the game with a 12-5 run and stretched the lead of 32-11 by halftime.
The second half was more of the same as the Wildcats ran away with the 59-35 victory.
Welch scored a game high 23 points and Logan Aaron added 11.
Sims pitched in with 10 points while Rivas had eight. Warren and Pelletier rounded out the books with five and two points respectively.
“We had to win to have a shot at the playoffs and the Wildcats took care of business. I was extremely proud of our defensive effort all four quarters,” said Short. “For the most part we were very efficient on offence. All seven players contributed on both ends of the floor.”
This was the third must win game for the young Wildcat, and coupled with a Garden City loss, Grady earned a third-place spot in the playoffs.
Grady’s junior varsity game ended in strange fashion.
The two teams battled to a 32-32 tie at the end of regulation forcing the teams to play another four minutes. Again, Grady and Sands were evenly matched. As both teams scored six points in overtime the game ended in a 38-38 tie.
Austin Aaron led Grady in scoring with 15 points and Cortez had 10 points.
Quint Harrell ended the season with a six point game while Colt Carson and Austin Snider wrapped up the season with four and three points respectively.
“This group has improved all season and I’m very proud of them,” said Short. “The future is bright here at Grady with these young men.”