LANCASTER
Ten Hawks scored in a Friday road loss to state-ranked Lancaster. The Tigers outscored Red Oak 50-21 over the second and third quarters of the 79-55 win.
Red Oak was outscored in each of the first three quarters before outpacing Lancaster 25-19 in the fourth quarter.
"We played terribly defensively, and we couldn't get any easy shots," Red Oak head boys' basketball coach Jason Sasser said. "You have to give Lancaster credit. They really forced us to have to execute. We just settled for three-point shots."
Sasser added, "We have to realize that, in this district, the intensity that those top four teams play with. This is a state-pedigree team. They play together. They play for one another, and they are hardnosed. We have to learn that when you play in places like this, especially on the road, You have to come ready to play. You got to come ready to play."
Marcus Sasser led the Hawks with 12 points, while Emerson Wallace scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Andrew Yuhanna scored nine points, Joshua Sasser had five, and Jonathan Chapa and Howard Turner both scored three points. Keymond Taylor and Jordan Ward scored two points, each. Windell Alcorn rounded out the Red Oak scoring with one point.
"We fought. We played hard. We just didn't play smart. As a team, we played hard. We just have to play harder and smarter, and that is the key," Sasser said. "We have to pay attention to detail defensively, as well as offensively."
Red Oak dropped to 15-8 on the season and 2-3 in District 10-5A with the loss. The Hawks sit one win behind (17-7, 3-2) Midlothian for the district's fourth and final playoff spot. They can move into a tie for the fourth spot with a win against the Panthers on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in Midlothian.
Tipoff, which was moved due to inclement weather Monday evening and into Tuesday, is at 6:30 p.m Wednesday in Panther Arena.