AREA BOYS HOOPS: Lake View Back in Playoffs After Beating Sweetwater

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The Lake View Chiefs are in the playoffs for the second time in three years after taking down Sweetwater 46-43 on Friday.

Lake View's effort was helped by a late push from senior shooting guard Ahmad Daniels in the fourth quarter.

The win didn't come easy for Lake View. The Chiefs trailed 11-7 after the first quarter.

Lake View then put the clamps on Sweetwater, outscoring them 8-4 to tie the game at 15 entering halftime. They would take the lead in the third.

Senior Kendall Blue started the Chiefs' second half run with seven points in the third quarter to help Lake View to a 26-23 lead. That's when Daniels followed suit.

Daniels would tally nine points in the fourth quarter during a 20-point outburst that sealed the win for Lake View.

Daniels finished as the game-high scorer for the Chiefs with 18 points. Ryan Avalos was the only other Chief in double figures with 10 points.

Lake View (14-18, 3-4) will close out the regular season on the road at Big Spring on Jan. 12.

TLCA Tackles Ballinger a Second Time to Set Up District Championship Clash with No. 11 Wall

The TLCA Eagles traveled to Ballinger on Tuesday, where they picked up a crucial 62-58 win over the Bearcats to set up a chance at a share of the District 4-3A title.

TLCA held a slim early lead at 14-10 after the first quarter. Harrison Ragan led the way for the Eagles with six points in the quarter on a pair of three-pointers.

The two teams then found an offensive rhythm in the second quarter and combined for 43 points. Despite Ballinger's 23-point explosion, TLCA cradled a narrow 34-33 lead entering halftime thanks to seven points from Isaac Gonzales and three three-pointers as a team.

Ballinger pulled ahead at 49-46 after the third quarter thanks to three three-pointers from Kenyan Gonzales, Cody Harral and Daniel Cavazos, and four points from Marcus Toliver.

TLCA's Gonzales continued his scoring ways with another five points, Ragan drained another shot from range and the Eagles stormed back with 16 points in the fourth quarter to win the game.

Isaac Gonzales finished with a game-high 23 points in the win. Ragan picked up 12 points on four three-pointers. Jevon Everitt had 11, six of which came in that vital fourth quarter comeback.

Cole Zentner had Ballinger's high mark of 15 points. Toliver finished with 13.

TLCA (22-4, 10-1) will host no. 11 Wall on Tuesday with a chance to claim a share of the District 4-3A championship if they were to win.

Ballinger (18-13, 7-4) will close out the regular season on the road at Sonora on Tuesday.

This story will be updated. Scores and stats can be sent to the sports editor at [email protected]