Graford boys win, 90-15

GRAFORD – When you’re a district champion from the prior year, the following year brings promise but also a bit of concern when you open with Newcastle, one of the weaker teams from the new district.

You still want your kids to play hard but you don’t want to embarrass the other team. Graford had that uneviable task Friday but managed to keep things under control in what was still a 90-15 win.

Graford Coach Jeff Bell saw his charges go to 11-2 and open district play on a high note as well.

“I thought we played well but, even more importantly, I through we played well together for the first time all year,” Bell said. :Sometimes with a big lead you can become individualistic. We didn’t. We played together and unselfish.”

The Rabbits tried to spread the offensive wealth as best as they could. Levi Butler burying a pair of threes to help with an 8-0 lead two minutes into the fray. To put that into perspective Newcastle had just one shot in the game’s first 3:40.

Graford then went inside the rest of the frame. Cody Lemley coming through with three buckets to help the Rabbits, who shot 50 percent in the frame, take a 16-0 lead into the second stanza.

The Rabbits outscored Newcastle 28-2 who went another quarter without a basket. The squad used two free throws to get on the board.

Newcastle doubled its scoring hit a basket in the final minute of the third quarter, the first Bobcat basket of the quarter. Graford outscored Newcastle 26-2 in the third.

Cody Lemley had three baskets and picked up three more buckets from Trent Lemley as Graford took a 70-4 lead into the fourth quarter.

Graford reserves gained a lot of time in the fourth quarter and played solid defense late.

Graford had four players in double figures Marc matthews tossed in 19 tolled the Rabbits. Cody Lemkey added 18 Trent Lemley added 16 and Butler 15 with five threes.