Close, but no cigar

NOCONA – Friday’s regular season finale ended much like most of the season: a solid effort that doesn’t end up in the win column.

The Tigers found themselves in a four-point hole to begin the fourth quarter but cut it to two on a Rylan Chalmers baskets in the opening seconds. A Nocona squad that likes shooting, and making, from outside, would allow the Purple to get no closer in posting a 56-46 victory.

Jacksboro ends its campaign at 1-11 in District 7-3A while Nocona will move on to the postseason with the fourth seed at 6-6.

The Indians would lead by as many as 13 in the final minutes on three-pointers from Landry McCasland and LB Fenoglio. Nocona shot 50 percent in the final stanza and 42 percent for the game while Jacksboro was 5-21 in the fourth and 24 percent for the game.

Jacksboro went up 4-0 in the first 90 seconds as Chalmers and classmate Jordan Yount each had baskets. Noncona took off on a 13-0 string over the next 4:00. Jacksboro finally ended the run with Josh Pierce’s free throw.

Jacksboro missed its last 12 shots from the field and was 2-7 from the free throw line to keep Nocona up 13-6 after one. A seven-point Yount quarter with some help from fellow seniors Chalmers and Landon Davenport would bring the Tigers within two.

A late Fenoglio three-pointer would push the Nocona lead back to five, 24-19, at the half. After the Indians went up by as much as nine, Taber Dunn’s bucket cut the deficit to five. Jacksboro could get no closer than four.

Yount had 16 and Chalmers 15 points for Jacksboro. Fenoglio had 12 for the Indians.