Tigers look to rebound in districts after a bittersweet regular season

Brice Budd (No. 5) for the Tigers during a previous home game this season, looking to score his free throw shot.

Photo by Kaleb Vestal | Daily Mail

After a roller coaster of a season with big wins and tough losses, the Nevada Tigers are ranked first out of six teams in the Class 4 District 13 tournament in Pleasant Hill, Mo., and look to keep on with their winning ways.

“We feel confident in our ability to compete hard each and every night and put ourselves in a position to win games in the fourth quarter,” stated Head Coach Shaun Gray. “We are proud of the hard work we’ve put on this season that has prepared us for this week.”

The Tigers have had nearly a two week break from action, as their final game was the big win against the El Dorado Springs Bulldogs on Feb. 16. Coach Gray commented on what they did in that timespan.

“With the two weeks off, we took the long weekend off, then we had some simulated games in our scrimmages to try to stay in game shape and to stay sharp. We have watched a lot of film and we feel very familiar with our opponents. This time of year, after a long season, rest is a good thing. We should be fresh and energized heading into the district tourney.”

The Tigers will strap up back into action this evening, when they will take on the Clinton Cardinals, who are a familiar face to Nevada. The Tigers traveled to Clinton, Mo., on Jan. 3 earlier this year, coming out with a 63-32 win. “On Wednesday, our plan is to focus on the defensive end,” Coach Gray told Nevada Daily Mail, talking about facing the Cardinals once again this year. “We want to allow our defensive pressure to dictate the flow of the game. If we guard hard we should be able to generate plenty of points to win ballgames.”

Districts is a win and you're in type of play, meaning you are done for the year if you take a loss. With the Tigers 13-13 record, Nevada feels confident about entering the month of March. “We are excited for the postseason,” Gray quoted. “We are pumped to get back in action in front of the faithful Tiger fans. We are looking forward to a great crowd and atmosphere this week at Pleasant Hill.”