The bad news: The Port Aransas High School Marlins lost all four of their games at the Industrial High School basketball tournament in Vanderbilt.

The good news: The teams that beat the Marlins came from decidedly larger schools able to draw from larger pools of athletes.

On Thursday, Nov. 29, the Class 1-A Marlins fell to the Goliad High School Tigers, an athletic 3-A team, 52-49.

"A slow start hurt the Marlins," said Marlins coach Paul Patteson. "We were not aggressive to start the game. As the game progressed, we asserted ourselves and had opportunities to take the lead. However, good free-throw shooting from the Tigers allowed them to stay on top." POINTS BY QUARTER

1 2 3 4 F PA 10 11 14 14 49 GOL 21 14 6 11 52 INDIVIDUAL SCORING: REID COPELAND, 7; CHARLEY WALKER, 11; CODY COLLINS, 4; DRAKE SAWYER, 12; MATT WHITE, 11; RYAN PHILLIPS, 2; JASON ARDOIN, 2.

After the Goliad loss, the Marlins played another game the same day and lost, 52-44, to the Industrial High School Cobras.

STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Up and over Zack Merrill of the Port Aransas High School Marlins shoots over Hallettsville players at the Industrial High School tournament. "Industrial handled our pressure early and kept us from getting into our type of game," Patteson said. "We kept working and eventually cut a 14-point deficit to two points. But we were unable to push it over the top."

In addition to scoring big, Sawyer and White were effective rebound- ers.

"Zack Merrill played well off the bench, along with Cody Collins, who was very effective on the boards," Patteson said. "Ryan Phillips came in and played good defense and rebounded well." SCORING BY QUARTERS

1 2 3 4 F PA 6 19 6 13 44 IND 16 14 14 8 52 INDIVIDUAL SCORING: MERRILL, 2; WALKER, 6; COLLINS, 4; SAWYER, 10; WHITE, 14; PHILLIPS, 2; ARDOIN, 6.

West Columbia, described by Patteson as "a big 3-A playoff team," defeated the Marlins, 60- 53.

STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS On the move Cody Collins of the Port Aransas High School Marlins cuts through the competition during a game at the Industrial High School tournament. The Marlins didn't shoot well and fell behind in the third quarter. The Port Aransas boys applied a tough pressure defense and were able to pull within four points of West Columbia but remained behind when the final buzzer sounded.

Still, there were bright spots.

"The inside combo of Ryan Phillips and Drake Sawyer was very effective this game," Patteson said. "Jason Ardoin had an excellent game on defense, and Matt White rebounded very well." SCORING BY QUARTERS

1 2 3 4 F PA 11 16 3 19 53 COL 15 17 14 14 60 INDIVIDUAL SCORING: MERRILL, 2; COPELAND, 10; WALKER, 7; COLLINS, 2; SAWYER, 8; WHITE, 7; PHILLIPS, 12; ARDOIN, 1.

The Marlins also lost a game to Hallettsville. Details on that game were unavailable.

Strategy STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Coach Paul Patteson discusses strategy during the Industrial Tournament last weekend. Eyes to the sky STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS From left, Marlins Matt White, Reid Copeland, Ryan Phillips and Cody Collins keep their eyes on the ball while playing against the West Columbia Roughnecks.. STAFF PHOTO BY KAREN COLLINS Elevating Marlin Drake Sawyer shoots over Goliad's defense.