Basketball Recap: West Fork Comes Up Short

West Fork extended their losing streak to three on Saturday, dropping them down to 7-7. They were outmatched by the Lufkin Panthers and fell 61-31. The Gators were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 34-13.

When it comes to explaining why West Fork lost, don't look at Nadia Camacho. Despite the final result, she posted 14 points.

As for Lufkin, they pushed their record up to 11-3 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. They have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won six contests by 23 points or more this season.

Lufkin's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Akira Smallwood led the charge by shooting 53% from the field on her way to 20 points in addition to six rebounds and four steals. Those 20 points gave Smallwood a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Mariah Mays, who went 9-for-14 to rack up 19 points and five boards.

Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. West Fork will head out to square off against Dayton at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Lufkin, they will venture away from home to challenge Whitehouse at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday. The Wildcats' defense has only allowed 28.9 points per game this season, so the Panthers' offense will have their work cut out for them.