Ganders Goose Elks in Pool Play

Baytown Lee 85 Elkhart 41

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – While the Onalaska Wildcats and the Van Vleck Leopards tipped off the Houston County Holiday Tournament in Grapeland, the Elkhart Elks and the Baytown Lee Ganders got the tournament going in Crockett.

The game started out with the Elks matching the Ganders shot-for-shot and for a while in the first quarter it looked like it would be a close game. At the four minute mark, however, the Ganders defense stepped up and the Baytown Lee offense began to click as they went on a 12-0 run to close out the first eight minutes of play and then began to pull away to give the Ganders an 85-41 win.

Ky Thomas paced the Elks with five in the first period while Messiah Birdow dropped in four and John Ashford made one of two from the line.

The Ganders were led by Montrel Motton with 10 and Ja’Kenan Davis with nine. Julian Laubach added three as Baytown Lee opened up a 22-10 lead after the first quarter.

The second quarter wasn’t much better for the Elks. RJ Moore got going with seven points while Thomas had three and Birdow had one.

Anthony Hodge led the way for the Ganders in the second quarter as he dropped in seven points. Motton added six, Laubach and Marc Hall both had four while Davis had three to help give Baytown Lee a 46-22 lead at the break.

Following halftime, the Ganders put the game away as they scored 26 points while holding the Elks to 13 which made the score 74-34 after three periods of play.

The Elks got six points from Moore while Birdow had five and Landry Mays knocked down a pair of free throws.

The fourth quarter saw Baytown Lee milk the clock as they coasted to an 85-41 win.

On the game, the Elks were led by three players in double figures. Messiah Birdow paced the Elks with 14 points, while RJ Moore knocked down 13 and Ky Thomas had 11. Landry Mays added two and John Ashford made one of two from the line.

Baytown Lee was led in scoring by Montrel Motton with a game-high 24 points. Ja’Kenan Davis went for 20 and Anthony Hodge poured in 17. Julian Laubach netted 13, Marc Hall had four, Jacorey Green had three and both Paci Cantu along with Desmond Fontenot had two apiece to round out the Ganders’ point production.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

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