Leps Beat Smithville in District Hoops Opener
On the last day of 2021, the La Grange boys basketball team grabbed a win that will have a big impact well into 2022.
Over a dominating final six minutes of the game, the Leps turned a one-point lead into an 11-point win, downing the Smithville Tigers 52-41 in the district opener for both teams Friday afternoon.
La Grange was led in scoring by junior Jaxon Cooper who had 18 points. Sophomore Nate Scott added 10. Junior Eli Roberts, had nine points off the bench, including a pair of threepointers during that late fourth quarter surge.
“That was big. We’re going to have to have that from the guys coming off the bench. Everyone played a role today. It will take all nine guys for sure,” said La Grange head coach David Cooper.
“Feels really good to beat this team, especially since we are rivals,” Roberts said. “We felt like to get into the playoffs, this was a team we need to beat, so for sure this meant a lot.”
The Leps came into Friday’s game having played five games earlier in the week at the East Chambers Tournament against some top flight competition.
La Grange lost three of those five games, but instead of looking tired from all that action, the Leps were ready for the Tigers.
“Our composure stuck out to me today more than anything,” Cooper said. “We’ve been playing some really good teams. I tried to schedule good people that would pressure us. It paid off today, we really held our composure and handled the ball well.”
Charles Hodge led Smithville with 12 points.
La Grange varsity newcomer Jaron Woods did a good job battling inside to limit Smithville’s 6-foot-7 Joseph Mokry to just eight points.
“Jaron’s a big body,” Cooper said. “We still have a lot of work to do with him, but he’s playing hard and playing well.”
The Leps are now 9-10 overall and 1-0 in district as they continue district play at Manor New Tech Tuesday.
Cooper said Austin LBJ is again expected to be the top team in the district, but it could be a dogfight every night between the other district teams and they battle for playoff spots in District 20-4A.
12/31/21
La Grange boys 52, Smithville 41
La Grange 11 11 13 17 – 52
Smithville 9 13 10 9 – 41
La Grange scoring: Chovanetz 1, Roberts 9, Baker 5, Trlicek 7, Scott 10, Cooper 18, Woods 2.
Smithville scoring: Hancock 4, Roberson 2, Hodge 12, Hippler 1, Adams 8, Minifee 1, Mokry 8.