SHS vs Cypress Fairbanks Bobcats @ Cy Fair Gym 1/20/21:

The Spartans improved to a 9-7 overall record and 5-1 record in District play following their victory against Cy Ridge on 1/16/21.     Their next opponent would be a tough one vs the Cypress Fairbanks Bobcats who held an almost identical 9-6 overall record coming in to the game.  The game began with a fast, quick-passing Bobcat offense.   They jumped out to a 0-7 lead with 5:53 left in the 1st.  SHS started out a bit timid and didn’t score their first basket until ½ way through the 1st.   Q1 ended with a 7-13 Spartan deficit.  Both teams opened up a bit and Stratford got their legs underneath them by beginning the quarter with a 5-0 run and tying the game 13-13.   The Bobcats continued their aggressive, fast offense and regained the lead to end the 1st half with a 23-29 lead.  The second half began with another 8-0 Spartan run to take the lead 31-29 with 6:17 left in the 3rd.  Lots of back and forth in the 3rd with the Spartans turning up the intensity.  The game was tied 41-41 with :41 seconds to play.   3 Spartan turnovers over the last :40 seconds allowed the Bobcats another bucket by the end of the 3rd quarter buzzer.  The 4th period had Stratford once again begin with a run of 7-0 to take a 48-43 lead with 6 minutes to play.  Each team scored 5 points until the 2:42 mark left in the game.  The Spartans scored an additional 5 points to hold a 58-48 lead at the 1:40 mark mainly due to continued trips to the foul line.   SHS was in the bonus nearly the entire 4th period.  The game ended with a well-played and hard fought victory by SHS – 63-53.    Outstanding play:  Three Spartans scored in double figures with Hawkins Polley, Luke Hatcher, and Everett Bates scoring 14, 13, and 10 points respectively.  Donovan Banks contributed 7 points and 3 rebounds.    

SHS vs Jersey Village Falcons @ Jersey Village Gym 1/23/21:

The Spartans continued their victorious run to a 10-7 overall record and 6-1 record in District play following their victory against Cy Fair on 1/20/21.     Their next opponent would be the Jersey Village Falcons on the road.    The game began with a strong Spartan start, both offensively and defensively.   They out-scored the Falcons 16-2 in the 1st.  Great SHS D and outstanding ball movement kept the momentum up throughout the 2nd period.  The Spartans went in to the locker room with a 32-14 lead at the half.   The 2nd half would have the Falcons mount a come-back, coming out strong in the 3rd by allowing SHS to only score 4 points.  The quarter ended with a 36-26 Spartan lead.  The 4th opened up with a 2-8 Falcon run.  A turnover led to another Falcon bucket to close the lead to 38-36 at the 4:36 mark.  There was a lid on the Stratford bucket during this time.  Stratford added 4 points until the 1:14 mark.   The game got a bit chippy at this point with the Falcons’ #34 pushing Everett Bates over on to the court.  After this, the Falcons continued to foul SHS to get them in to the bonus.  The Spartans kept making their free throws and cruised down the stretch to a 50-38 low scoring win.    Outstanding play:  The whole team kept turnovers very low and kept their poise to close out a tighter than what it appeared game.  Hector Igbikowubo led all Spartan scorers with 13 points.   Lots of other scoring contributors with Keanu Dawes (8 rebounds), Everett Bates, and Jameson Cronin contributing 9, 8, and 8 points respectively.  Donovan Banks executed monster D with 2 steals and 2 key blocks.  Him and Luke Hatcher also contributed 5 points each.