San Antonio Veterans Memorial reverberated with excitement Friday night as the San Antonio East Central Hornets and Cibolo Steele Knights battled for a coveted spot in the UIL playoffs. In a back-and-forth game, the Hornets ultimately soared, defeating the Knights by a score of 65-55.
From the tip-off, the Hornets swarmed the court, displaying impressive teamwork and getting everyone involved in the offense. Isaiah Mackey led the charge with a scorching 10 points in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the team. Caleb Smith added 7 points, contributing to an 8-point lead for the Hornets entering halftime.
The Knights refused to go down without a fight, with Maurice Eddie putting on a scoring clinic, dropping 23 points throughout the game. Logan Gonzalez chipped in with 16 points for Steele, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Hornets.
East Central truly showed their depth, with four players finishing in double figures. Caleb Smith finished with 13 points, followed by Jacob Stewart and Isaiah Mackey with 13 and 15 points, respectively. Zahir Williams rounded out the scoring leaders with 11 points.
The victory sends the Hornets buzzing into the playoffs, where they’ll face the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers on February 19th, 2024. The location of the matchup is still to be determined, but one thing’s for sure: the Hornets are flying high with momentum and confidence.
Key Players:
- East Central: Isaiah Mackey (15 pts), Caleb Smith (13 pts), Jacob Stewart (13 pts),Zahir Williams (11 pts)
- Steele: Maurice Eddie (23 pts), Logan Gonzalez (16 pts)
Looking Ahead:
- East Central vs. San Antonio Reagan Rattlers – February 19th, 2024 – Location TBA
This game promises to be another exciting battle as the Hornets look to continue their winning streak and advance deeper into the playoffs. Can they maintain their impressive teamwork and scoring balance, or will the Rattlers sting them with their own brand of offensive firepower? Be sure to tune in and find out!
