Mustangs knock off Brahmas, Wildcats set up title showdown

Playing for pride is something the Nixon-Smiley boys basketball team is doing as the season ends.

The Mustangs seem to have plenty of pride as well.

Nixon-Smiley (6-21, 4-7 in District 28-2A) rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Stockdale, 70-58, Friday in Stockdale.

The Mustangs, who were eliminated from postseason contention with a 66-39 loss to Hallettsville last Tuesday, put a serious damper in the Brahmas’ playoff chances as well. Stockdale (6-5 in 28-2A) must defeat Hallettsville (9-2 in 28-2A) and have Schulenburg (6-5 in 28-2A) lose to Karnes City (2-9 in 28-2A) tonight in order to qualify for the postseason.

Schulenburg swept the season series from Stockdale, which means the Shorthorns will go to the postseason with a win. Schulenburg kept its playoff hopes alive with a win at Luling on Friday.

The Brahmas jumped out to a 17-14 lead after one quarter of play before outscoring Nixon-Smiley, 24-19, in the second quarter to build a 41-33 lead at the half.

The Mustangs stormed back in the third quarter thanks to a 19-10 run in the period, which gave them a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth.

Nixon-Smiley then took over defensively in the final quarter as the Mustangs outscored Stockdale, 18-7, in the final eight minutes of play.

Sam Moore led the way with a season-high 31 points, while Nick Pena scored 15, Matt Finch had 11 and Garrett Earlywine added 7.

Nixon-Smiley closes the season against Luling at 6 p.m. today at Nixon-Smiley High School in Nixon.

Waelder 71, Austwell-Tivoli 60

The Wildcats held off Austwell-Tivoli, 71-60, Friday in Tivoli. Clay Orona led the way for Waelder (16-13, 6-1 in 31-A-Division II) with 19 points, while Tiburcio Blanton had 16.

The win sets the Wildcats up for a district-championship showdown against Moulton (7-0 in 31-A-DII) at 6 p.m. today at Waelder High School. A Waelder win will give both teams a co-championship, which will then require a tiebreaking method of some sort to determine which team gets the district’s No. 1 seed in the state playoffs.