Bears run past Mustangs

The Little Cypress Mauriceville Bears won their first district game at home this season over crosstown rival the West Orange Stark Mustangs. The Bears got a big lead early and outpaced the Mustangs 81-51 on Tuesday, January 17.

Coming into the game Little Cypress Mauriceville had lost its two district home games to Bridge City and to Lumberton. The win over West Orange Stark improved the Bears’ record to 3-2 in district.

Noah Fuller got the Bears on the board with the first basket, but the Mustangs’ Geramicah Davis nailed a three pointer to give West Orange Stark a 3-2 advantage. It would be the Mustangs’ only lead of the game.

Little Cypress Mauriceville went on a twelve-point scoring binge after that to go up 14-3 until Davis stopped the Bear run hitting his second three. Ben Elliott of the Bears scored eleven points in the first quarter to help them lead 22-11 after the first period.

In the second quarter LCM picked up where it left off in the first. The Bears scored fourteen points including five by Jayden Benton during the first five minutes of the period to increase their lead to twenty-five points 36-11 before Chadrick Lee got the Mustangs’ first points in the second.

West Orange Stark got some momentum after Lee’s basket. Jamar O’Neil made the next bucket and Tahj Amerson scored the last four points before half time to get the Mustangs closer 38-21 when the players went to their locker rooms.

The third quarter started with Alantheon Winn sinking a three for Little Cypress Mauriceville. Jonah Fuller would later add a three and a field goal for his five points in the game.

As the quarter was ending Elliott inadvertently deflected a rebound of a shot by West Orange Stark’s O’Neal into the basket giving the Mustangs two points. Ben more than made up for that tallying six points in the third stretching the score to 60-36 for the Bears.

The situation got no better for the Mustangs in the final quarter. LCM’s Elliott poured in seven more points, Da’Marion Morris had four points with an assist, and Ty Blackmon came off the bench to sink two three pointers. The Bears won decisively 81-51.

Elliott led everyone with 28 points in the game. Winn scored 15 points making ten of twelve free throws. Morris was in double figures with 11 points dished out numerous assists during the win.

For the Mustangs Geramicah Davis was their high scorer with 17 points that featured five three point baskets. Darren Anderson registered 12 points and had a dunk that greatly excited the West Orange Stark fans.

LCM Coach Brad Jeffcoat appreciated the big win over the rival Mustangs. “Anytime we play West Orange Stark the whole community seems to turn out. We had a pretty good atmosphere in here tonight. We’ve lost our last two home district games, and we were really frustrated with that. We’ve pushing our kids hard the last week and a half, and it does feel good to kind of put somebody away and take care of business at home,” Jeffcoat commented.

The Little Cypress Mauriceville Bears closed out the first half of their district schedule losing 80-47 to the Silsbee Tigers on Friday night. Alantheon Winn led the Bears with 19 points and Ben Elliott scored 17 points. LCM’s next game is Friday, January 27, at Bridge City.