Katy has put together a strong season by playing for each other.

The Tigers don’t do things individually, everything up and down the court is done as a team with only winning in mind, and that’s led to the Tigers being right in the middle of the playoff hunt in District 19-6A.

Katy faced one of the most important games of its season so far on Friday, as they went against Jordan in a battle of teams that were tied in the district standings as both tried to keep pace in an ever competitive top half of the district. In the end, the Tigers came away with a big win, winning 75-58 behind a tremendous second half where they never let Jordan get into the game.

“It’s all about finding the win in front of you and getting that one, and that’s what the kids focused on today,” said Katy head coach Michael Elizondo. “I was so proud of how unselfish all of the guys on the court were and how they stepped up. It was a great game from those kids and they played for each other.”

Jordan jumped out in front of the beginning of the game and had control for most of the first half, but Katy managed to keep it close as Jordan led 18-12 after the first quarter and 35-32 at halftime.

But something flipped for the Tigers in the locker room before the third quarter and they came out and locked down Jordan with their defense in the second half. Katy kept cutting into the deficit and finally retook the lead for the first time since the early goings in the first quarter when they made it 48-46 late in the third.

Katy went into the final quarter up 52-50 and never looked back, pulling away down the stretch and stifling the Jordan offense throughout the fourth quarter.

“We just had a different level of urgency in the second half,” Elizondo said. “They controlled the pace and were more physical than us in the first half and we turned that around in the second half. We really stressed about playing in the half court on both sides and making Jordan take tough shots, because that’s a really good team with guys who can score. So we tried to contest every possession and make it hard. Our kids did that in the second half and really embraced it.”

Tomas Belaiter led the way for Katy with 21 points, while Brady Willis had 20 and Michael Hernandez had 19. The win put Katy in sole possession of third place in district, but there are more tough games coming up, as the Tigers next two opponents are both playoff contenders in Paetow and Cinco Ranch.

“We competed the way we need to every game in that second half,” Belaiter said. “We have to come in every day in practice and keep that same energy, keep working towards that goal and see where it takes us because we know that we can compete with anyone.”

District 19-6A

Katy 75, Jordan 58

Points: (K) Tomas Belaiter 21, Brady Willis 20, Michael Hernandez 19, Jayden Stewart 6, Joel Cashiola 4, Blake Gillespie 2, Greg Santos 2; (J) Elijah Black 21, Jaden Holt 13, Rayan Fadika 9, Jalen Black 6, Jude Oluokun 3, Landon Kjar 2, Jacob Oluokun 2, Corey Nicholson 2;

Halftime: Jordan 35-32; 3-Pointer: (K) Stewart 2, Willis; (J) Black 3, Holt 2, Jude Oluokun; Records: (K) 17-9, 7-3; (J) 21-7, 6-4;