Irving MacArthur blinds Grapevine with Shine's 41 points

By Gary T. Skrehart

Special to the Star-Telegram

GRAPEVINE -- Irving MacArthur's Tavarius Shine had a night suitable for framing as Grapevine took the brunt of it in a 68-51 District 6-5A loss to the Cardinals at the Grapevine Gym.

Shine completely dominated the Mustangs, finishing with 41 points, 18 rebounds, nine blocks and five steals.

Shine's performance allows the Cardinals (21-8) to stay alone atop the 6-5A standings at 11-2.

Grapevine (21-11, 9-4) is in third behind second-place Colleyville Heritage (21-9, 10-3).

MacArthur and Grapevine have clinched playoff spots, but the Mustangs came into the game hoping to pull into a first place tie with MacArthur.

The Mustangs actually had some hope early in the fourth quarter pulling to within 48-45 when their full-court pressure forced several MacArthur turnovers and kept the ball away from Shine.

But Shine put the game to rest with 14 of MacArthur's 21 fourth-quarter points, including two gym-rattling dunks. Most of MacArthur's other seven points in the quarter came in the last three minutes when the game was out of reach.

Grapevine's Alex Greisen led the Mustangs with 20 points, combining 3-pointers with tough inside points.

Grapevine was able to relieve the pressure Shine applied only when he was on the bench. He picked up his third foul early in the third quarter and had to sit, and he had to play more conservative defense after the third foul, which prevented him from picking up more blocks.

Shine carried the Cardinals' offensive load in the first half with 19 points, 15 of which came in the second quarter when he seemed to find his groove.

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