Palacios buzzer-beater ends Marlins chance for a victory
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Speeding by Matt Dunton of the Port Aransas High School Marlins heads past an Aransas Pass Panther in a Jan. 2 game at Aransas Pass.

SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

The Port Aransas High School Marlins lost to three teams from larger high schools in the Sinton basketball tournament Dec. 28-30.

The losses included a heartbreaking game in which the Palacios Sharks won, 32-31, hitting a shot at the final buzzer to squeak past the Marlins. Palacios is a 3-A high school, based on student population. Port Aransas is 1-A.

“We let a game slip by that should have been ours,” said Mark Spencer, coach of the Marlins. “(Marlin) Charlie Walker hit a clutch three from the corner to give us the lead with less than a minute to play. We were fouled, still with a one-point lead but couldn't convert, and they hit a shot at the buzzer to win it.

“I felt bad for our guys, but you have to play for 32 minutes, not 29 and 59 seconds,” Spencer said. “It was a tough loss but a well-fought game. Hopefully, we can learn from
it.”
POINTS     QUARTER

Heading down court Dusty Foley of the Port Aransas High School Marlin JV team drives down court during a game against the Aransas Pass Panthers.

          BY
PA           8     3     13       7     31
PAL       13     5     10       4     32
10; CHARLEY WALKER, 4; MATT DUNTON, 4; CODY COLLINS, 4; MATT WHITE, 3; DRAKE SAWYER, 4; RYAN PHILLIPS, 3.

The Goliad Tigers, a 3-A team that has made it to the regional playoffs the past three years, beat the Marlins 49-31.

“We played well except for a stretch in the third quarter where turnovers versus their full-court pressure turned a four-point game into a 14-point game very quickly,” Spencer said.

Marlin attack STAFF DAN PARKER Port Aransas High School Marlin Matt White goes after an Aransas Pass Panther.

Among bright spots was strong shooting by Reid Copeland, who drilled four 3-pointers. POINTS BY QUARTER
PA           5   12       9       5     31
GOL       10   10     19     10     49

INDIVIDUAL SCORING: COPELAND, 17; DUNTON, 4; SAM BURT, 2; ROBERT TATUM, 2; COLLINS, 1; WHITE, 4; SAWYER, 1.

A foreign exchange student with the Taft Greyhounds played a big role in the Marlins' 31-53 loss to the 2-A hounds team.

DEE-fense! Port Aransas High School Marlins JV player Clay Hagedorn defends against an Aransas Pass Panther.

Gert Byron of Belgium scored 25 points for the Greyhounds.

The Marlins played fairly good defense, but the team's shooting was sub-par, and unforced turnovers allowed the Greyhounds to score 20 points.

The Marlins were missing two starters and a reserve – players who were out of town for the holidays. POINTS BY QUARTER
PA           5     10       5     11     31
TA         11     16     15   10     53

INDIVIDUAL SCORING: COPELAND, 3; WALKER, 2; TATUM, 9; COLLINS, 6; WHITE, 6; PHILLIPS, 3.

On the offensive Charley Walker, left, of the Port Aransas High School Marlins, dribbles around an Aransas Pass Panther defender.