In a tight race for the District 2-6A title, something was going to give between Permian and Wolfforth Frenship.
In the end, it was the Tigers that remained in sole possession of first place in the district standings.
Frenship used a strong third quarter to help pull away from Permian after a close first half and remain undefeated in 2-6A play with a 78-53 win over the Panthers Tuesday at Permian Fieldhouse.
The Tigers moved to 21-4 overall, 4-0 in district play, while the Panthers fell to 18-8, 3-1.
Both teams will face each other again on Feb. 13 in the second half of district play in Wolfforth.
Frenship outscored Permian in the third quarter 25-7 to turn a three-point lead into a 21-point advantage heading into the fourth.
“We talked with our players at halftime that we have to come out in the second half and play with a lot of energy that we’ve practiced with,” Frenship head coach Paul Page said. “That didn’t happen in the first half. It did in the second half. In the third quarter, we played the way we needed to play.”
Page was happy to get the district win on the road.
“It’s always important to win on the road in 2-6A,” Page said. “To come out and get the win on the road and a key win, that’s important for us and sets the stage for us as we get ready for the second half of district play.”
Frenship was led in scoring by Chase Campbell’s 21 points while Armani Gacanica and Jakari Davis each had 13.
Permian was led by Ben Saldivar’s 17 points while Javariane Beck had 10 and J’siah McCowan had nine.
Frenship began the night on a quick 6-0 run.
A put-back by Ryale Moses brought the Panthers to a two-point deficit as Permian began to fight back.
Frenship hit a 3-pointer from Gacanica to make it 9-4 soon after with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
However, both teams continued to make baskets and the game was a one-point affair with 3:05 on the clock.
A free throw by Permian’s Anderson tied the game up at 13-all with 1:19 on the clock.
A layup by Davis for Frenship gave the Tigers an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Saldivar drilled a 3-pointer early in the second quarter to make it 18-16 score.
Campbell responded with a transition basket just a few seconds later as both teams continued to trade baskets.
The back-and-forth contest continued throughout the quarter.
A lay-in by Gacanica at the buzzer ended the half with Frenship ahead 35-32.
Frenship came out of the locker room to score two quick baskets for a 39-32 advantage to begin the second half.
Campbell added an inside jumper soon after and the lead became nine points for the Tigers.
Things didn’t get any better for Permian as Gacanica added a layup while drawing a foul.
His free throw went through to complete the three-point play, making it 44-32, Frenship with 6:15 on the clock.
The Tigers used a 5-2 run to extend their lead to 15.
Fouls continued to hurt the Panthers in the third quarter and the Tigers only thanked Permian from the line as Permian pulled away to a 56-34 advantage.
A technical foul on the Panthers sent Campbell to the line where he made both free throws and the score was Frenship 60, Permian 34 with 2:08 still to go in the quarter.
The Panthers’ deficit would be too much to overcome and Frenship secured its lone spot at the top of the standings.
Permian will next face crosstown rival Odessa High at 7:30 p.m. Friday at OHS Fieldhouse to close out the first half of district play.
Frenship will next get San Angelo Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Wolfforth.
