Arlington Seguin boys avenge loss to Mansfield Legacy, alone atop 15-4A

By Jared L. Christopher

Special to the Star-Telegram

MANSFIELD -- Despite playing on the road in front of a raucous crowd Tuesday night, the Arlington Seguin boys basketball team played with swagger to defeat Mansfield Legacy 56-37 and take sole possession of first place in District 15-4A.

The victory was redemption for the Cougars, No. 4 in the state rankings, whose only district loss came against Legacy in early January.

"We definitely played with a chip on our shoulder tonight," Seguin coach Robert Thigpen said. "That first loss... really knocked the wind out of us."

Seguin (27-4, 11-1) and senior guard Cris Boleware took control early as Boleware scored back-to-back baskets to put the Cougars up 8-3 midway through the first quarter.

Legacy (24-7, 10-2) turned to senior co-captain Brett Potter, who drained an NBA-range 3 pointer and hit three free throws after being fouled behind the 3-point arc.

"[Potter] is a shooter," said Thigpen. "We told our guys to stay on him, but he has a way of finding an opening and he knocks down his shots when he gets an open look."

The Cougars' Brandon Parrish, a TCU signee, later helped stifle Legacy's run with a 3-pointer from the corner as Seguin took a 26-17 halftime lead.

Parrish picked up where he left off, throwing down a monster dunk on the first possession of the second half to spark an 8-0 Seguin run.

Seguin guard Richard Holden later hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Parrish scored five points in less than 30 seconds to help the Cougars pull away for good.

"We knew we would have to match their intensity and play through their crowd," said Parrish, who scored a game-high 14 points.

"Coach wanted an up-tempo style and we were able to do that."

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