Texas High Holds Off Liberty-Eylau for 86-73 Win

TEXARKANA -- Texas High built a double-digit lead in the third quarter and preserved the advantage the rest of the way for an 86-73 home win Thursday against crosstown foe Liberty-Eylau.

Texas High 42-38 at halftime before a 26-18 third-quarter edge pushed the Tigers ahead by 12 points, 68-56, entering the fourth quarter.

Jamal Ray led the Tigers (7-5) with 21 points, while Success Blevins netted 18 points. Darion Kidd added 14 points. Texas High hit 10 three-pointers, including three from Ray and two apiece from Blevins and Kidd.

Liberty-Eylau's Kwan Curry scored a game-high 23 points. Teammate D.J. Goodnight contributed 13 points, while L-E's Javon Rigsby scored 12.

Texas High led 23-15 after one quarter before the Leopards' 23-point second quarter helped them cut their deficit to only four points by intermission, 42-38. The loss dropped L-E to 7-11 on the season.

The win marked Texas High's second in three days after the Tigers rolled to a 124-62 home win vs. Atlanta on Tuesday. The victory was also Texas High's second against Liberty-Eylau in the last couple of weeks. The Tigers won 100-66 at L-E on Dec. 18.

Texas High hosts John Tyler at 1 p.m. Friday. Pleasant Grove visits Liberty-Eylau on Jan. 10 in a District 13-3A opener.