Slocum vs Nazareth, Class A, Division II state finals

SLOCUM STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!

Fourth Quarter
32 sec - The bench has come in for Slocum as this one looks to be over.

Fourth Quarter
55 seconds - Slocum looks like they are going to be winning a state championship - the first for the boys' program. Lane at the line and makes two more free throws and Slocum leads 43-27

Fourth Quarter
1:29 - Jared Lane goes back to free-throw line and he makes both and Slocum leads 40-23. Lane having MVP type game with 20 points.

Fourth Quarter
1:41 - Slocum calls a timeout as Steven Prater gets caught in back court. Mustangs lead 38-23 and while there is still time left, it looks to pretty much over unless a miracle happens.

Fourth Quarter
Nazareth not fouling a Slocum just running ball around and running clock. Runs 30 seconds off before Swifts finally foul Jared Lane. He misses first but Slocum still leads 38-23.

Fourth Quarter
2:52 - Brody Sizemore hits FT and Slocum leads 38-21. Nazareth starting to foul when Slocum gets ball.

Fourth Quarter
3:08 - Timeout Nazareth, one more left. Slocum's Brody Sizemore gets fouled and misses first of two before timeout called. Mustangs still lead 37-21. Slocum already showing signs of slowing ball down and with way they shot free throws in the semifinal game, if they do it again tonight, they will have a state title.

Fourth Quarter
4:10 - Offensive foul by Nazareth. With just over four minutes to play, what time does Slocum start slowing down.

Fourth Quarter
4:40 - Nazareth has had ball for minute, put up multiple shots, could not score and Brody Sizemore gets steal. Lead still 37-21

Fourth Quarter
5:39 - Logan Foster gets three pointer to roll in and Slocum leads 37-21. First player other than Lane and Thomason to score.

Fourth Quarter
6:28 - Jared Lane hits back to back three pointers and Slocum leads 34-18. What a time for the leader of this Mustang team to nail two daggers. He has 18 points on the night and has five three pointers. Slocum needs to play tough defense, limit it to one shot and not turn ball over.

Fourth Quarter
Slocum extends lead to 10 points on two Steven Prater free throws.

End Third Quarter
At buzzer Randall Thomason gets a layup and Slocum extends lead to 26-18 with eight minutes left for a state championship. Slocum has to take care of basketball, had five straight turnovers at one point in third quarter. Nazareth continues to struggle from field, 6-33 (18 percent)

Third Quarter
:59 - Finally Slocum does not turn ball over and good things happen, Lane three pointer and Slocum leads 24-18

Third Quarter
1:435- Four straight turnovers by Slocum but Nazareth turns it right back.

Third Quarter
2:02 - Slocum timeout. Swifts just hit a three pointer and cut the lead to 21-18. Slocum has to get it figured out on offense and not turn ball over. 11 turnovers for game and three straight.

Third Quarter
2:23 - And the sixth team foul for Slocum, Nazareth shooting free throws for rest of game. Only place they seams to be consistent is from free-throw line.

Third Quarter
2:39 - Another turnover - three straight - and another foul on Slocum, five team fouls.

Third Quarter
3:43 - Two straight turnovers for Slocum and Nazareth cuts the lead to 21-15 and Mustangs have picked up four team fouls.

Third Quarter
5:18 - Randall Thomason scores four straight and Slocum leads 21-13.

Third Quarter
6:38 - Brody Sizemore picks up fourth foul going after a rebound. Slocum leads 17-13 as Kendell Redd heads into game. No body else for Slocum in foul trouble.

Halftime
Slocum leads 17-11 at the half. Not much scoring in this one. Slocum used most of the final minute for a shot, which Jared Lane missed a three pointer. Nazareth had one last shot, but missed as the Swifts tried to drive to the basket. Missing has been the name of the game for Nazareth in the first half. The Swifts are 3-23 shooting, including 0-5 from the free-throw line. Nazareth is trying to drive to the basket and get a foul called, but the rests are allowing both teams to play. Other than the first could of minutes, Slocum has done a solid job on blocking out and limiting Nazareth to one opportunity each time. The Mustangs need to continue doing that in the second half and they have to cut down the turnovers. Slocum turned the ball over eight times, many coming of of passes that they are trying to thread through the middle inside the lane. Lane and Thomason are the only two players to score for Slocum. Lane has nine points and Thomason has eight points. Not sure if Slocum can win if that continues, but we have seen stranger things.

Second Quarter
2:03 - It has been Jared Lane and Randall Thomason for the Mustangs. Thomason hits another jumper for his 8th point and Nazareth just hits 2 FTs. Slocum leads 17-11

Second Quarter
3:19 - Nazareth full timeout. Jared Lane hit a jumper from free-throw line for 15-7 lead and then blocks a shot at the other end. Lane misses a three pointer and Nazareth calls the timeout after a Swift player got trapped in the corner. Nazareth now is shooting 3-20 on the night. If the Swifts continue to shoot like that, Slocum must block out and not allow multiple attempts.

Second Quarter
3:58 - Randall Thomason another putback and Slocum leads 13-7.

Second Quarter
4:49 - Slocum picks up two quick fouls including third on Brody Sizemore. Still 11-7

Second Quarter
5:18: Slocum leads 11-7 as neither team is shooting very well, Slocum 4-12 and Nazareth 3-19. Mustangs hurting selfs with turnovers on offense, trying to throw passes in to tight of areas.

End First Quarter
Slocum gets a last second shot when Randall Thomason grabs an offensive rebound and hits a mid-range floater from baseline to give Slocum an 11-5 lead. Nazareth struggling from the floor, shooting 2-for-13 in the first quarter while Slocum was 4-for-11. Slocum has to make sure they keep Nazareth off the offensive boards, it looks to be what the Swifts try to do, put up a shot and crash the boards.

First Quarter
2:30 - Nazareth timeout. Randall Thomason on a curl gets a layup and Slocum leads 9-3. Mustags have tightened the screws on defense and have outscored Nazareth 9-0. Slocum's Brody Sizemore did pick up his second foul and Kendell Redd now is in the game.

First Quarter
4:17 - Jared Lane now gets inside and gets fouled for Nazareth's third foul. Lane makes one FT and Slocum leads 7-3 early on.

First Quarter
4:44 - Jared Lane another three pointer and Slocum leads 6-3.

First Quarter
5:33 - Jared Lane three pointer to tie game at 3-3. Needs big game for Slocum to win

First Quarter
6:07 - Early on it has been offensive rebounding for Nazareth, who has three points, (3-0 lead) all coming after getting offensive rebounds. Slocum is going to have to block out.

Pregame
After a long season, many and many hours dedicated to basketball, it all comes down to one game for the Slocum Mustangs, who are preparing to face Nazareth for the state title in Austin. Slocum has a record of 28-8 and Nazareth has a record of 24-12. Again, for the Mustangs, they play another team who is very familiar to Austin. After defeating reigning state champion Laneville in the regional finals, Slocum topped Lipan, who has been to the state tournament nine times, Friday in the semifinals. Now it is Nazareth, who may be considered the elite of the Class A teams with 13 state tournament trips. These teams look to match up well, and experience at state should not be a problem for Slocum from indications of how the Mustangs played at regionals and Friday in their first game at the Erwin Center.
Starters for Slocum are Logan Foster, Steven Prater, Brody Sizemore, Jared Lane and Randall Thomason.
Starters for Nazareth are Sage Black, Nicky Rowland, Clint Huseman, Cluck Brennan and Sid Sheffy.