YHS Bulldogs win at home against Sandcrabs

By Mark Lube on Wednesday, December 20, 2023
  • YHS Bulldog Isaac Martinez (2) shoots the ball. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    YHS Bulldog Isaac Martinez (2) shoots the ball. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
  • YHS Bulldog Clayton Hlavac prepares for a free throw. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.
    YHS Bulldog Clayton Hlavac prepares for a free throw. Photo courtesy of Raymond Rosas.

    The Yoakum High School (YHS) Bulldogs did not leave anything unchecked on the Port Lavaca Calhoun game list X’Zavier Barnett made two dozen points as the Bulldogs romped to a 65- 34 win Dec. 12 at Bulldog Gymnasium, excelling in all areas of the game.

    “I was proud to see our kids put together a full game,” Yoakum Head Coach Roderick Taylor said. “Offense, defense, hustle and they just played hard. I am very impressed with how unselfish we played.”

    With the exception of the alumni game scheduled for earlier this week and the Luling Tournament at the end of next week, the Bulldogs wrapped up nondistrict and started district Dec. 15 at Columbus.

    “We played some teams that I feel like have gotten us ready for district. We won’t know how we are until we start district, but we do play some high-quality competition and some wellcoached teams that will throw everything at us. Time for us to lineup and play Bulldog basketball,” Taylor said.

    The Sandcrabs opened the game with five of the first seven points. Gage Harrison hit a triple and Zach Taylor scored after an offensive rebound to knot the game 5-5.

    Led by six points and three buckets by Barnett, the Bulldogs ended the frame on a 10-2 run.

    In the first part of the second quarter, the Bulldogs scored eight straight points. Barnett put back a missed shot, Clayton Hlavac scored after a steal, Barnett had another bucket, and Jamar Hopkins sank a pair of free throws.

    Calhoun scored two points in the quarter, a basket by Coltyn Judd. From 23-9, the Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run, highlighted by a dunk by Harrison and a three-point play by Barnett to give the Bulldogs the lead 32-9 at halftime.

    To kick off the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored seven of 13 points with a Zach Taylor bucket and he assisted on a Harrison layup. Later, Hopkins sank a triple for a 39-13 lead.

    The Bulldogs ended the quarter with an 11-0 run in which Barnett had three straight buckets, scoring after an offensive board on every one of them. The Sandcrabs managed to outscore the Bulldogs 19-15 in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to get back into the game. The Bulldogs led by six points and two triples from Krish Bhata.

    YOAKUM 65, PORT LAVACA CALHOUN 34

    P 7 2 6 19 34

    Y 15 17 18 15 65

    Port Lavaca Calhoun: Jayce Campos 14 3pt-3, Josiah Campos 4 3pt-1, Connor Cobb 4, Holton Hadley 3, Coltyn Judd 3, Marquise Farrow 2, Huens 2, Rocky Ybarra 2.

    Yoakum: X’Zavier Barnett 24, Gage Harrison 9 3pt-1, Jamar Hopkins 8 3pt-2, Zach Taylor 8, Krish Bhata 6 3pt-2, Isaac Martinez 3, Tristan Chomout 3, Clayton Hlavac 2, Elyas Garza 2.