The Cuero Gobblers basketball team put up a spirited fight during the Goliad Tournament held from Dec. 11-13, shooting against a range of opponents.
The tournament offered a mixed bag of results for the Gobblers, highlighting both areas for improvement and commendable performances from key players.
The Gobblers kicked off the tournament facing La-Grange, a tough opponent they eventually fell to with a final score of 37-49. Despite the loss, the game featured some notable individual performances. D’zayvion Bonner led the scoring for Cuero with 10 points, while both Carmelo Perez and Hunton Rickman contributed 7 points each. The match unfolded with Cuero staying competitive early on, trailing only slightly at the end of the first quarter (1012) and showing promise as they continued into the second quarter (20-26).
The following day saw the Gobblers face Edna, where they once again suffered a narrow defeat, finishing the game at 4547. The first quarter began favorably for Cuero, leading 10-5, but Edna clawed back and took control. Elias Munoz stood out this game, scoring 10 points, alongside Perez and Rickman, who scored 9 and 8 points, respectively. The close nature of the game suggests that with a few adjustments, Cuero could find themselves on the winning side in future matchups.
In their third outing, the Gobblers turned the tide with an exhilarating 55-53 victory over San Marcos Home School. Paydon Flores shone brightly, leading all scorers with 19 points, while Chris Mathis and David Leinen made significant contributions with 10 points each. The Gobblers demonstrated resilience in this game, especially in the third quarter, where they built a strong lead that they managed to maintain until the final buzzer.
However, the challenging schedule continued with a matchup against the home team,undefeated Goliad. The Gobblers faced a tough defeat, losing 37-65. Despite another strong performance from Leinen, who amassed 17 points, Goliad’s team dynamics proved too strong for Cuero to overcome, leaving the Gobblers short on the offensive side.
In a contrast to their earlier struggles, the Gobblers delivered an impressive performance in their last game of the tournament against Industrial JV, securing a dominant 63-33 win. Starting strong with a first-quarter score of 22-9, the Cuero team demonstrated their growth and ability to capitalize effectively on their opportunities. Leinen’s consistent scoring continued as he chipped in 13 points, with Mathis and Rickman also putting in solid performances with 11 and 10 points each.
“In our first week playing together I saw some bright spots. We are still getting to know each other. Our effort was good, but we have to get in basketball shape. We faltered late in some games,” Coach Scott Galloway.
Prior to the tournament, Cuero had a notable win against Salesian on Dec. 9, taking the game 5244. Leinen once again led the way with 18 points, supported by Flores and Bonner timely contributions of 10 points each. The Gobblers take on Waelder on Dec. 16 at The Roost, followed by Fayetteville on Friday, Dec. 19, with JV at 5 and Varsity at 6:15.
