High School Basketball

Tompkins overcomes 16-point deficit to beat Taylor

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 1/21/23

“Our slogan is to go out and play fast and furious,” said sophomore guard Scottie Guillory. “That all we were doing. Got up and down the court, pressured them on defense and did whatever we could to keep this game fast. That’s just how we want to play, and it makes teams uncomfortable.”

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High School Basketball

Tompkins overcomes 16-point deficit to beat Taylor

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Tompkins has started to find its groove over the past few weeks.

The Falcons came into the year with a young team that had to grow into their roles, it’s taken until this point in the season, but Tompkins is showing that growth and the results have started to show on the scoreboard.

Tompkins has started the year winning four of six, only losing to the top two teams in District 19-6A, and the Falcons continued their run of success on Saturday, as they beat Taylor 83-78 in what was a huge victory that keeps the Falcons in the top four of district and within one of third place.

“This was such a big win to get,” said junior guard Luke Caughran. “This is a good team and we came in, competed and found a way. That’s how you have to do it in these games, you have to keep finding a way and we were able to do that. This was one we needed.”

It was not an easy win for the Falcons and they knew it wouldn’t be going in, Tompkins trailed after each of the first three quarters and trailed by 11 heading into the fourth, and were down 16 late in the third quarter, but made up the deficit quickly in the fourth quarter before holding on down the stretch to earn the win.

“I told them before the fourth quarter, ‘hey, this is only going to take four or five possessions and we are right back in this thing,’” said Tompkins head coach Bobby Sanders. “They just believed in that and they went out and did everything we wanted so well to start the fourth. They got big stops, made big shots down the stretch and they played so tough. I’m proud of the way they finished this game.”

Taylor led by just one after the first quarter in what was back and forth before growing that to a four point lead at half. But the whole time the Falcons kept composure and kept making shots to keep things close. Coughran struggled in the first quarter but poured in 12 points in the second, including three 3-pointers as the Falcons continued to climb into the game.

“Our slogan is to go out and play fast and furious,” said sophomore guard Scottie Guillory. “That all we were doing. Got up and down the court, pressured them on defense and did whatever we could to keep this game fast. That’s just how we want to play, and it makes teams uncomfortable.”

The Falcons came out strong to start the third quarter, but Taylor went on a run late to take the big lead, but everything changed in the fourth.

Tompkins full-court press started to get to Taylor and It led to a number of easy baskets as the Falcons quickly got back into the game. After Tompkins took the lead, Guillory was huge down the stretch for the Falcons to maintain it, making a number of key rebounds and free throws while also being the primary ballhandler.

“Even though Scottie is a point guard he’s also our biggest guy out there a lot of the time and he really has done a great job of crashing the boards for us,” Sanders said. “He’s strong with the ball and can finish plays and he was just huge for us. He made clutch free throws, made the right plays and just did everything and more that you could ask from him in that fourth quarter.”

The win was huge for Tompkins, who is currently tied for fourth in district with Cinco Ranch and is also a game back of Taylor for third place in district. And the Falcons are focused on getting better the rest of the way.

“We’ve been locked in the past few weeks and we have to stay that way the rest of the way,” Guillory said. “We have to continue to attack practice everyday, keep our focus and play selfless when were on the court moving the ball around. That’s how we keep getting better.”

District 19-6A

Tompkins 83, Taylor 78

Points: (TO) Luke Coughran 26, Scottie Guillory 17, Owen Craig 9, Greg Ilagan 9, Colton Collins 7, Grant Schulenberg 6, Emmanuel Paul 3, Mason Hereford 2, Tiger Jackson 2, Noah Babineaux 2; (TA) Luke Robbie 28, Reece Hymowitz 16, Aidean Rainey 11, Elijah Melchiorre 8, Jabari Parker 7, Catch Robbie 6, Benjamin Agboola 2;

Halftime: Taylor 41-37; 3-Pointers: (TO) Coughran 4, Schulenberg 2, Ilagan; Paul; (TA)  Hymowitz 2, Parker; Records: Tompkins: 16-12, 6-4; Taylor: 19-8, 6-2;

Katy ISD, Tompkins, Taylor, sports, basketball, District 19-6A