BRONTE, TEXAS — The Bluecats were eliminated from the playoffs on Monday night by the Eagles of Sterling City 60-55 in Bronte, the same location they were eliminated last season.

The night started rough as Braxton Smith had two fouls less than two minutes into the ball game. Smith was removed for the reminder of the 1st Quarter in order to keep him out of foul trouble.

The Eagles outscored the Bluecats 11-9 after the 1st. The Eagles largest lead of the night being seven points. Then, with Smith back in the game, the Bluecats tied it up at Halftime, 27-27. The whistles were also blowing all contest as Coleman out fouled Sterling City nine to six in the first half. 

Coleman came out on fire in the 3rd Quarter, building a lead up to 11 points midway through the quarter. It looked like it was all Bluecats from there on out, but the fouls kept coming. The scoreboard, at one point, showed 5-1 in Coleman’s favor. Nevertheless, it was Coleman up 43-38 heading into the 4th.  The majority of that thanks to great board work by Jordan Bell and Hunter Lackey who really had it turned on. 

The 4th is when it all fell apart as the Eagles continued to chip away. Sterling City had one player hit six three pointers while Coleman was only able to get two deep shots off the entire night. Again, the Bluecats found themselves in foul trouble as the bonus was applied to the Eagles quickly, Braxton Smith with three fouls as the 4th began.

Coleman, continuing to battle for momentum late in the game, had some taken away as Smith reached in for a steal, making contact with the ball, pushed it out, was shoved to the ground by the player, but was then called for a foul with 6:30 left in the ball game, his fourth. This forced Smith and the Bluecats to play conservative for the rest of the contest.

The Eagles, knowing this, went on the attack. Screaming back and taking a two-point lead with a little over 2:00 remaining. Coming back the other way, Braxton drives into the lane with three men guarding him. He goes up for a floater, makes slight contact with a defender, the defender flops to the floor, and for the first and last time in his high school career, Braxton fouls out. With 1:45 or so remaining, the Bluecats are without their leader in points, assists and steals, down by two, and Sterling City is in the double bonus. 

Coleman was able to add their first and only three of the ball game to the score sheet thanks to a bank shot by Jadin Jackson. That bucket bringing the Bluecats within three points, but a foul on the ensuing drive gave the Eagles two free throws, two points, and a trip to Area next week to be beaten by New Home. 

For the seniors, their stats are as follows. Braxton Smith finished his final game with 14 points and eight assists. Jordan Bell added 12 points and four rebounds. Ryland Gentry tallied nine points and eight rebounds. Hogan Johnson had two rebounds and one assist, and David Navarro rounded it out with one rebound. Hunter Lackey, a junior, was second in scoring with 13 and five rebounds.

The Bluecats finish their season 21-12, officially, with a share of the District Championship. Â