Stanton stunned at bi-district by TLCA Eagles

SAN ANGELO – Teams have struggled all season with the San Angelo TLCA Eagles' relentless full court defensive pressure, and Saturday afternoon was no different for the Stanton Buffaloes.

TLCA got off to a blistering start and had a perfect defensive performance in the third quarter en route to a 68-33 win against the Buffs in a Class 3A Region I bi-district playoff game at San Angelo Lake View's Ben Norton gym.

It's the first playoff game for Stanton since the 2015-16 season.

Stanton finished the season with an 11-10 record while the Eagles improved to 22-3 and they will face Wichita Falls City View in the area round on Tuesday.

TLCA’s fast start garnered the Eagles a 24-7 first quarter lead. Foul trouble placed several TLCA starters on the bench in the second quarter allowing the Buffs to narrow the gap to 34-21 by halftime.

Stanton’s momentum was short lived as the Buffs struggled mightily in the third quarter to break the Eagles’ press and quickly found themselves in a 58-21 hole.

With a never say die attitude, Stanton fought until the final buzzer making the final tally 68-33.

One of Stanton’s main objectives was to stop TLCA senior guard Jevon Everitt, last season's All-West Texas Super Team MVP. The Buffs achieved that goal by limiting Everitt to only four points. Unfortunately for Stanton, the Eagles had several bench players step up in their star’s offensive absence.

Freshman Jaidden Villanueva scored a gamehigh 19 points for TLCA, and Sterling Harding also scored in double digits with 14. Freshmen Drew Sherrill and Luis Casillas added nine apiece.

Harding connected on four 3-pointers, and Villanueva and Sherrill made three apiece to account for the Eagles' 10 trifectas.

Alex Flores had a teamhigh 13 points for Stanton, and Arturo Salinas had nine.

Tyler Benedict ended the game with seven points, and Casey Buchanan and Josh Hensley added two apiece.

With basketball officially over, the Buffaloes move on to baseball, track, tennis, and golf seasons.