Cavazos Helps Roosevelt Top Rival

Less than a month ago, the boys basketball team played a seesaw battle with the Southgate Anderson Titans that saw a 13-point lead disappear to a hard-fought, eight-point victory. Thursday’s game between the two was a rematch that was just as bitterly contested. 

Led by senior guard Jett Cavazos’ 18 points, the Bears held on for a 53-51 victory, a game that never saw the lead grow bigger than seven points for either side.

Sophomore guard Devan Stewart added 12 points for the Bears.

“Tonight was a good feeling," Stewart said. "For us to get back on a winning streak was a good thing.”

Southgate senior Adam Tylenda scored 24 points for the Titans. 

This game was set to be an evenly contested battle from the start, and Southgate led 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Tylenda made shot after shot, constantly forcing the Bears to put more pressure on him. Tylenda ended the half with 18 points, and seemed destined for a big night.  

Jason Collins picked up his first technical foul in the second quarter after he and Southgate’s Matthew Moore picked up double technicals for their roles in an altercation after a whistle had blown.  

Behind Tylenda’s play, the Titans carried a six-point lead into halftime at 29-23. Leading the Bears in scoring at the half was Jason Collins with 10 points.   

The third quarter saw Southgate stretch the lead to seven points. Senior Jeremiah Mullinax picked up his third foul midway through the quarter, and this forced Southgate to play a smaller lineup. The Bears used this opportunity to their advantage and scored seven straight points to tie the game, and they eventually took a one-point lead into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter was played with determination from the two teams, both desperate to win. Collins was ejected midway through the period after another altercation. He finished with 10 points. 

The game was close until the end. With two minutes left, Roosevelt and Southgate were tied at 44-44 before Cavazos began to take over.

Cavazos was at the free-throw line multiple times with under a minute left, and with his ability to make free throws, Roosevelt was able to prevail.

Tylenda missed an open three-pointer with 13 seconds left that tied the game if he made it. While the senior scored 18 points in the first half, he was held to six points in the second half.

“We had a plan to shut Tylenda down all game, but he kept getting open, and that was a problem for us," Roosevelt coach Dave Cramton said. "You have to give him credit, we kept losing him on the floor.”

The Bears play at home on Monday against Lincoln Park. The game will start at 7 p.m.