The Morton Indians basketball team pulled off the upset win against the New Deal Lions this past Friday night at home, 71-68.
The win improves the Indians to 4-8 this season and marks their third straight victory, while dropping the Lions to 9-5 overall.
As a team, Morton outshot New Deal, 42% to 34% from the field and 29% to 24% from three-point range, while also recording more transition points, points off turnovers, defensive rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the game.
EJ Rivas played a huge role in those big team numbers, scoring 28 points on 12/25 shooting and going 3/6 from three, while recording 12 rebounds, eight steals, five assists and a block.
Travion Holland scored 17 points, going a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line, recording 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Britton Boggs scored 14 points off the back of two three-pointers, adding five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Other standouts included Jaeden Alvarado with five points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal, and Masyn Enriquez with five points.
“Great win going into the break versus a very good New Deal team,” Indians Head Coach Andrew Brockman said. “We are slowly putting it together and will continue to work hard to be ready by Jan. 2 for our first district game against Ropes. We are all looking forward to this break to recharge, and ready to come back and play the Caprock Tournament on Dec. 29.”
Taking down New Deal is no small feat, and it should get them ready to play a lot of good teams in the Caprock Classic Tournament after Christmas break.
The Indians kick off tournament play on Monday against Clarendon at 12 p.m. in the Lubbock Cooper High School main gym.
Their bracket at the Caprock Classic includes Slaton, Sands, Victory Christian, Munday, Borden County, Dalhart, Ropes, Abilene Christian, Wildorado, Forsan, Clarendon, Lorenzo, Wink, Childress and San Angelo TLCA.
Then following that, Morton kicks off district play on the road against Ropes at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 2 as Coach Brockman noted.
So, it’s safe to say that the Indians are getting hot at the right time as they’re about to play a lot of quality basketball teams.