Trimble Tech has all the answers in win over Everman

Each time Everman made a run late in its Class 4A Region I quarterfinal, Fort Worth Trimble Tech had an answer.

Everman pulled within three points three times in the fourth quarter but could never complete the comeback, and Trimble Tech held on for a 58-51 victory Tuesday at Mansfield High School.

Trimble Tech (26-6), ranked No. 16 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, advances to the Region I tournament at The Coliseum in Snyder and will face No. 14 Amarillo (25-5) at 4 p.m. Friday. Amarillo beat Wolfforth Frenship, 63-50 Tuesday.

D.J. McMillan took over the third quarter, scoring 13 of his 19 points for Trimble Tech, and the Bulldogs built a small lead that Everman could never overcome.

Everman (26-4) cut the lead to 40-37 on a basket by Justin Hooks with 6:43 left in the game, but Quavon Parks answered with a 3-pointer to put Trimble Tech up by six.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Ka’Juan Malveau, who led Everman with 19 points, cut the lead to 48-45 with 3:39 left, but Parks answered with another 3-pointer to go back up by six.

“That’s what these kids have been doing all year,” said Trimble Tech coach Wendell Ivory. “I’m going to go ahead and name a couple in Quavon Parks and D.J. McMillan, who have been knocking down big shots for us all year.”

Malveau hit another 3-pointer to cut the lead to 51-48 with 1:51 left, but that was as close as Everman would get.

Spencer Franklin, who helped keep Trimble Tech in the game scoring 11 of his 18 points in the first half, was key down the stretch for the Bulldogs.

Franklin hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to close out the game and picked up 15 rebounds for Trimble Tech.

“I just want to take my hat off to Everman because they’re tough on the defensive end and they have outstanding, outstanding guard play,” said Ivory. “That’s a great team and a great coach.”

This story was originally published February 25, 2014 at 10:22 PM.