Basketball Recap: Daivon Kindred's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Gaither over Wiregrass Ranch

Gaither was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fifth straight loss. They were four points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 68-64 heartbreaker at the hands of the Wiregrass Ranch Bulls. While losing is never fun, the Cowboys can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 257th, while the Bulls are ranked 76th).

Gaither lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Daivon Kindred, who posted 14 points. Those 14 points gave Kindred a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Asiah Perry, who had 13 points.

Wiregrass Ranch's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Kj Smith led the charge by putting up 22 points. Smith has been hot for a while, having posted 15 or more points the last 17 times he's played. Another player making a difference was Kyden Wiley, who went 5 of 7 on his way to 14 points along with seven boards and four steals.

Gaither's record is now 10-10. As for Wiregrass Ranch, they are on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four games, which provided a nice bump to their 13-5 record this season.

Gaither will square off against Hillsborough at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Gaither is facing Hillsborough at the right time seeing as Hillsborough is stuck on a four-game losing streak. Wiregrass Ranch has already played their next contest, a 97-92 defeat against Tampa Catholic on the 18th.