Orangefield only local basketball team still in state playoffs

Three local boys high school basketball teams Bridge City, West Orange-Stark, and Orangefield made it to the post season. Only Orangefield has advanced to round three of the state playoffs.

The Orangefield Bobcats won a thrilling area round game 66-56 on Friday, February 23, in overtime against the Crockett Bulldogs at C.E. King High School near Houston. The Bobcats went into the post season as a second seed after tying with the Kountze Lions as the District 21-3A champions, but losing to the Lions in the seeding game on Friday, February 16.

Four Bobcats scored in double figures in their win over Crockett. Zane Wrinkle led Orangefield with 24 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Griffin Thomas had a superb game with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Jaden Scales scored 11 points and handed out 3 assists. Kane Smith performed a double double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Orangefield whipped Woodville in the bi-district round of the playoffs 62-41 at Buna on Tuesday, February 20. Wrinkle and Scales both hit for 20 points in the victory. Smith scored 10 points while dishing out 7 assists. Kadyn Rucker had a big night on the boards with 13 rebounds and scored 7 points.

The Bobcats have improved their record to 33-5 on the season. Next up were the Hitchcock Bulldogs who were 30-3 going into the game with Orangefield played on Tuesday, February 27, at Lee College in Baytown.

The Bridge City Cardinals and the West Orange-Stark Mustangs competed in the Class 4A basketball playoffs after finishing as the second seed and third seed in District 19-4A. The Cardinals won their bi-district game over the Livingston Lions 59-51 on Tuesday, February 20, at Lumberton.

Senior Aiden Gutierrez nailed five three pointers to finish as the high scoring Cardinal with 19 points. Lincoln Breaux tallied 13 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, and made 5 steals. Aaden Bush also scored in double figures with 12 points adding 4 rebounds. Post Bryce Linder contributed 7 points and 6 rebounds.

The successful season for Bridge City came to a conclusion on Friday, February 23, at Nacogdoches as the Spring Hill Panthers defeated the Cardinals 58-48 in the second round of the state playoffs. Bush a sophomore was the leading scorer for Bridge City with 21 points.

West Orange-Stark was eliminated from the post season after losing 52-47 to the Huffman Falcons on February 20 at Winnie. Joshua Holifield completed his basketball career as a Mustang with a double double performance scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.