Sabine Overwhelms New Diana

Outside shooting lifts Cardinals over the Eagles, 81-35.

Tuesday, fourth ranked Sabine showed why they are climbing the state coaches poll, running over New Diana in a shooting spree.

In an exhibition of three point shooting, the Cardinals used their height advantage and a lack of pressure on the corners to outscore the Eagles in all four quarters.

When they weren't phoning the baskets in, the Cardinals used some remarkable inside passing to pick up the high percentage two pointers, and good pressure the length of the court to frustrate the Eagles, who usually play a good ball control offense.

The Eagles only trailed by ten to open the second quarter, but Sabine noticed they were getting free looks at the corners and the top of the key, and opened up the long ball shooting. Thanks to the hot hands of Colton Kirk and Noah Jackson, the tactic worked, and the cardinals took a 39-19 lead into the half.

Adjustments by New Diana in the second half to pressure the corners were answered by Sabine taking the ball inside, and their two point game proved just as hard to stop. At the end of the third quarter, the Cardinals owned an 60-23 lead.

Diana would add 12 points in the last eight minutes, but the Cards didn't slack off, answering with 21 points of their own to end the game.

Sabine's Colton Kirk led all scorers with 25, followed closely by teammate Noah Jackson with 24, both scoring four 3 point buckets.

Eric Dixon led New Diana with 15 points.

Scoring by Quarter

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	OT	Tot
Sabine	19	20	21	21		81
Diana	9	10	4	12		35

Box Scores

Sabine	Pts	FG3	Reb	New Diana	Pts	FG3	Reb
Colton Kirk	24			Eric Dixon	15
Noah Jackson	23			Bo Yarborough	6
Tyler Woodrell	10			Dale Griffith	4
Josh Montana	8			Shay Bradley	3
Jacob Kenna	6			Andy Hounsel	3
Zach Royce	4			Cory Rowden	2
Lie'Quan Byrd	3			Travis Barton	2
Chance Haskins	3			Tanner Manteusel	1

Sabine, now (4-0) in district 18-2A, will host White Oak Friday.

New Diana, (2-2) looks to get back on track Friday as they travel to face Union Grove.

Correction: Original posting of this article said Sabine was ranked third. They remain ranked fourth in the TABC poll of 2A teams.

Game Pictures