HEWITT – East Chambers, the opponent for Frankston's boys basketball team in a Class 3A Region III semifinal on Friday, turned out to be different than any other team the Indians have faced this season, especially on defense.

Unfortunately for Frankston what East Chambers did on defense led to a one-sided game, and the end of the Indians' season in a 72-45 loss at Midway High School's Panther Arena.

East Chambers started to pull away with a 10-1 run to end the first half to give the Buccaneers a 30-17 lead. Frankston's shooting woes continued into the third quarter as East Chambers opened the frame with a 17-6 run to end the competitive portion of the game.

They spread us out so much we couldn't get inside to do what we do,” Frankston point guard Dylan Hokit said.

Frankston (24-8) was denied its first trip to the region final round since 2002, when the Indians were the Class 2A state runner-up. East Chambers (31-6), ranked No. 11 in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches' Class 3A state poll, advances to the Region III final against District 23-3A rival and No. 5-ranked Kountze at 1 p.m. Saturday at Panther Arena. Kountze edged Teague 78-74 in the other semifinal.

Frankston's offense struggled mightily out of the gate. The Indians failed to get a shot attempt from the field on its first seven possessions, committing seven turnovers in the process. Using its speed to get back-tip steals East Chambers jumped to a 14-4 lead, anchored by seven points from Dylan Silcox.

Frankston did regroup in the second quarter. Led by Justice Bean, who had seven points in the frame, the Indians cut East Chambers' lead 16-13 midway through the second quarter, but the brief offensive efficiency Frankston had evaporated.

Bean had nine points in the first half and finished with a game-high 16 points.

They weren't like any team we faced this year. In practice our scout team couldn't simulate what they could do,” Bean said. “No offense to our scout team whatsoever. It's just the way it is.

They did a good job changing defenses on the fly. It's really hard to simulate that in practice.”

Frankston's standout center Kendrick Rogers, a Texas A&M signee in football, had just two points in the first half, but regrouped to be the Indians' primary offensive weapon in the second half when he scored 13 points. Rogers also had 14 rebounds, continuing to play after taking a hard fall with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter in which he landed back first on the court.

L.A. Bradford added 12 points for Frankston, but the Indians had just three starters score points. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers showed extraordinary balance. Darius Guillory scored 13 points, one of five Buccaneers to score at least eight points. Antwann Anderson was sharp finding open teammates for the Buccaneers, dishing out 11 assists to go with eight points.

We never had anybody press us from beginning to end this season,” Frankston coach Robert Loper said. “It was bad from beginning to end.”

---

No. 11 East Chambers 72, Frankston 45

Boys Class 3A Region III semifinal
At Hewitt Midway High School's Panther Arena

East Chambers          14    16    20    23    –    72
Frankston                     4    13      9    19    –    45

EAST CHAMBERS (31-6) – Darius Guillory, 13; Ethan Kahla, 12; Dylan Silcox, 10; Kordell David, 9; Antwann Anderson, 8; Austin Sutherland, 6; Stevie Johnson, 6; Aaron Sutherland, 4; Andre Anderson, 3; Peter Stewart, 1.
FRANKSTON (24-8) – Justice Bean, 16; Kendrick Rogers, 15; L.A. Bradford, 12; Tyler Moore, 2.
THREE-POINT GOALSEast Chambers: Guillory (2), Au.Sutherland (2). Frankston: Bradford.

More From East Texas Sports Network