Rangers win consolation championship

by Paul Heidelberg

The Smithson Valley HIgh School girls basketball team won the consolation championship at the Cougarette Classic Girls Basketball Tournament at Canyon High in New Braunfels, defeating Lehman 55-40 Saturday.

The Rangers jumped to a 43-26 halftime lead and were never threatened in the contest.

Mallory Meyers led the way with 16 points and seven steals. Michelle Reich added 10 points and five assists.

Before yesterday’s district opener against Judson, the Rangers were 6-8 (the game was played after the Times Guardian went to press). Smithson Valley travels to Churchill on Friday for an away district contest at 6:30 p.m. at Littleton Gym in San Antonio.

The Rangers showed spirited play throughout the Cougarette Classic tournament and defeated Seguin on Friday, 58-49. Smithson Valley led for much of the game, including having a 47-31 advantage with 1:29 remaining in the third period.

“But we missed 21 free throws,” Rangers Head Coach Jim Jost said. “If we wouldn’t have missed so many free throws, we could have played more people. That is what I had planned.”

Both teams played aggressively on defense, with players from both teams hitting the hardwood on numerous occasions.

When responding to a remark about the toughness of the play of both squads, Jost said, “I don’t really think you can say there is boys basketball, and there is girls basketball. It’s just basketball.”

Earlier in the tournament Smithson Valley played New Braunfels tough before falling to the Unicorns 57-50. The Rangers led 28-22 during the second quarter and took a 28-27 halftime lead.

Friday Smithson Valley will play Churchill in an away district contest at 6:30 p.m. at Littleton Gym in San Antonio.

APOLOGY AND RETRACTION

After a story was published in the Times Guardian Nov. 29, Smithson Valley High School Girls Varsity Basketball Coach Jim Jost contacted the newspaper and told us not only had he been misquoted by our stringer who had written the article but that he had never spoken with that person, and that his quotes had been made up.

The Times Guardian wishes to extend its sincerest apologies to Coach Jost, the team, Smithson Valley High School and to the readers.