Leps Handle El Campo’s Pressure, Win by Three

The La Grange boys basketball team prides itself on defense.

Friday the Leps proved they could beat a team that played defense as tenaciously as they do.

In a physical battle against El Campo La Grange prevailed 5047.

Senior Jaxon Cooper scored eight of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to just hold off a furious El Campo rally.

“Gutsy, really gutsy,” said La Grange head coach David Cooper of Friday’s win, which improved the Leps to 4-2 this season. “Tuesday against Wharton we faced an athletic team but not a lot of pressure. Tonight we faced some pressure. We handled it well at times and at times we didn’t. But I’m glad we played these guys. It’s good to win a close game like this.”

La Grange fell behind by four at halftime after a first half that saw El Campo nail six three-pointers.

“We talked at halftime that whoever was guarding No. 10 and No. 12 needed to get out further on that and not let them get their shots up. It was a pretty easy adjustment,” David Cooper said.

El Campo only made one three-pointer in the second half, which allowed the Leps to claw their way back in the game.

Clayton Knapik made a pair of free-throws with no time left on the clock going into the fourth quarter to put the Leps up 36-34 and El Campo would never lead again.

But after La Grange started the fourth quarter on a 8-0 run, the Ricebirds responded with a 10-3 run of their own.

They got as close as 48-45 with 1:06 left and 49-47 with 20 seconds left in the game. But each time Cooper made one of two-free throws to keep El Campo at arms length.

“It came down to Jaxon making those free throws at the end, keeping it a two possession game” said Nate Scott who scored nine.

 “He always seems to make everybody around him better.”

El Campo was able to get a potential game-tying shot off at the buzzer but it was no good and the Leps celebrated another win.

“I think we can be very good if we keep playing how we are and putting in the work,” Scott said.

The Leps play at the Navasota Tournament this weekend.

12/2/22

La Grange boys 50, El Campo 47 El Campo 10 17 7 13 – 47 Fayetteville 10 13 13 14 – 50 La Grange scoring: Chovanetz 5, Williams 1, Roberts 6, Cooper 17, Knapik 4, Trlicek 4, Scott 9, Nygren 4.

Record: Leps are 4-2.