Keller runs away from Byron Nelson, Indians in first place and more from Fort Worth-area hoops
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Boys
Keller 72, Byron Nelson 51
McNeese State bound shooting guard Parker Hannah erupted for 31 points and hit seven 3-pointers as the Indians ran past the Bobcats in District 4-6A.
The win put Keller, No. 21 in the Class 6A state rankings, into sole possession of first place in the district standings with an 8-1 record while Byron, No. 20 in the state, fell to 7-2.
The season series is tied 1-1 with five games left. Byron beat Keller at Keller the first time, 81-66.
Keller (18-10 overall) meant business at the jump, allowing most of Byron’s points at the free throw line. Brooks Bahr, who scored 13 points in the first half, hit a jumper that put Keller on top 16-4 in the first quarter.
Byron made one field goal in the period and Keller led 16-6 after the first quarter. Bahr assisted on a Rhett Schank layup with under a minute left on the clock.
Byron 4-star guard Finley Bizjack (Butler bound) did score 26, but had to fight for most of his points. Bizjack, who is the No. 1 ranked Fort Worth-area player, also leads the area with 29.7 points per game.
Bizjack didn’t make a field goal in the first quarter and made only two in the first half. 12 of his 26 points came from the charity stripe.
The Bobcats (23-5) did score the first four points of the second quarter to cut the deficit in half at 16-8, but Bahr made a free throw then nailed a three to make it 20-8.
Hannah hit one of his three 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Hannah hit Cooper Guerra in the fast break and Keller was up 17. The lead extended to 30-10 with 3:19 left in the second on another Hannah trey.
Bizjack converted a 3-point play to Hannah’s third three helped Keller double up on Byron at 38-19. The Indians went into the break leading by that same score.
Hannah hit a three from the wing in the third quarter and the lead was 41-19. Brayden Alward converted a Jonah Breeden assist to get Byron within 45-25.
Jacob MacDonald’s three got the Bobcats under 20 points for the first time since the second quarter. But Bahr hit a step back jumper and had a 3-point play and Keller was up 54-29 after three.
Scores
Keller 72, Byron Nelson 51
Parker-Tarrant HS 80, Weatherford Express 44
Poly 55, Southwest 52
Carter Riverside 70, DHJ 32
Argle 39, Birdville 34
Haltom 64, Fossil Ridge 61
Lubbock Christian 64, Temple Christian 45
Whitesboro 40, Boyd 36
Brewer 57, Saginaw 32
Alvarado 47, Hillsboro 37
Grace Prep 76, Covenant 59
Peaster 55, Early 19
Castleberry 69, Bridgeport 62
Paschal 56, Boswell 34
Timber Creek 49, Eaton 48
Dunbar 52, Eastern Hills 43
Timberview 73, Heritage 53
Seguin 54, Centennial 44
Mansfield 53, Lake Ridge 43
Granbury 46, Rider 37
Liberty Christian 77, SCS 59
Martin 81, Lamar 53
Richland 57, Colleyville 54
Girls
Keller 64, Byron Nelson 51
Four players on Keller scored in double figures as the Indians completed the season sweep over the Bobcats in 4-6A.
Keller improved to 22-8 overall and 9-2 in district, and clinched a playoff berth. Byron falls to 15-14 and 7-4, in a tie for third place with Fossil Ridge with three games left.
Rebakah Graves hit Mallory McQuietor on back to back possessions and Keller had an early 12-9 lead. Kinsey Morris hit a deep Byron three and the lead was down to 14-12.
Jaeden Gillam got a steal and assisted on a Renee Chmiel layup and Keller led 18-12 after one.
Five quick points from Gillam and the Indians lead grew to 23-14 midway through the second. Morris hit another three for the Bobcats, but the lead went back to 10 with two minutes on the clock. A three from Gillam gave Keller its largest lead of 13. Jessica Makayabo hit a late layup for the Bobcats and the Keller lead was 33-23 at intermission.
Ella Whitacre hit a corner three and a free throw from Makayabo made it a five-point game in the third. Bele Ratliff converted a 3-point play, but Keller finished the quarter strong and led by nine.
Graves found McQuietor in the low post and the lead was back up to 13. McQuietor scored 14 points while Chmiel and Gillam had 17 apeice. Graves chipped in 10.
Ratliff led all scorers with 21 for Byron.
Scores
Grandview 43, Keene 32
Argyle 61, Birdville 16
Brownwood 39, Mineral Wells 29
Colleyville 53, Richland 32
Immanuel Christian 61, MW Community Christian 44
Granbury 38, Rider 29
Carroll 64, Central 35
Keller 64, Byron Nelson 51
LCCS 51, Midland Classical 42
SGP 60, Sam Houston 42
Whitesboro 65, Boyd 20
FWC 52, Midland Christian 40
Lake Ridge 60, Mansfield 26
Hamilton 64, Rio Vista 17
Northwest 45, Azle 36
Brock 55, Comanche 43
Bridgeport 67, Castleberry 20
Alvarado 79, Hillsboro 53
Peaster 89, Early 29
Decatur 73, Springtown 33
Kennedale 58, Godley 50
Brewer 62, Saginaw 53
Fossil Ridge 57, Haltom 41
Dunbar 39, Eastern Hills 37
Timberview 71, Heritage 56
Boswell 64, Paschal 33
Midlothian 49, Joshua 36
Centennial 56, Seguin 23
Skyline 63, Legacy 54
Life 62, Venus 23
Weatherford 45, Chisholm Trail 24
Southwest 38, Poly 30
North Side 29, South Hills 26
North Crowley 48, Trinity 24
Liberty Christian 75, SCS 17
This story was originally published January 27, 2023 at 10:33 PM.
