Friday, April 26, 2024
The Lipan Indians were eight minutes away from beating the defending Class 1A state champion Slidell Greyhounds Friday.
Instead, Lipan lost to Slidell 49-46 in the semifinals of the H.D. Howard Classic. The Indians beat Jim Ned 44-37 in the third-place game Saturday.
Freshman Tripp Phillips scored 18 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter and eight in the first, to help the Indians beat Jim Ned. Junior guard Trent Harrison buried two first-quarter three pointers and finished with 10 points.
Garrett Smith added six points, Weston Vance scored five, Hatcher Heavyside and Cody Harwell each scored two and Tate Branson added a free throw.
Lipan led after each of the first three quarters in the semifinal against Slidell, the No. 1 team in Class 1A and the team that knocked the Indians out of the postseason last year in the regional final. Slidell took the lead in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
Tenaha, ranked No. 5 in Class 2A, beat Slidell 69-54 in the championship game to close out the H.D. Howard Classic.
The Indians (7-4),who start three freshmen alongside Harrison and senior Heavy-side, are ranked No. 14 in Class 1A in the most recent Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll.
Lipan played Class 4A Glen Rose on the road Tuesday and will travel to De Leon next Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. The Indians won’t start district play until Jan. 7 against Lingleville.
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