The Houston Tigers have figured out how to play three competitive quarters of basketball. It’s the fourth quarter that continues to be an issue.
The Tigers dropped another pair of close games the past week. They coughed up a double-digit lead in a 60-52 overtime loss Friday night to Salem and were outscored 16-10 in the final period of Monday’s 52-45 loss to Doniphan in the Liberty Invitational.
“When things get a little tight for us, we change the way we play,” Houston coach Brent Hall said. “We are more apprehensive than we are aggressive.”
On Monday, Kyle Poynter scored 22 points as the only player in double figures. Jesse Setters added nine.
Houston (4-9) was without starting point guard Curry Van Horn, who was injured in the Salem loss.
The Tigers trailed by just one point entering the fourth quarter. Poynter was the only player who managed to score in the final eight minutes.
“We didn’t execute late like we wanted to. That was probably the difference,” Hall said. “We are playing not to lose the game instead of to win. A lot of people don’t understand the difference. We’re on the back of our heels and waiting to see what bad can happen.”
Poynter was 10-for-11 at the free-throw line en route to a game-high 29 points against Salem.
Houston got points from four different players during a 14-0 run to build an early double-digit lead. Salem outscored the Tigers 31-23 in the second half to force overtime and by eight in the extra period.
JV BOYS: Kevin Dunn hit three 3-pointers en route to a team-best nine points in the JV Tigers’ 45-29 loss Monday to Doniphan in the Liberty Invitational.
On Friday, Jacob Kelly scored eight points in Houston’s 56-29 loss to Salem.
Box scores
VARSITY
Monday’s game
Houston 14 7 14 10 — 45
Doniphan 16 6 14 16 — 52
HOUSTON (4-9) — Jones 0 1-2 1. KyPoynter 9 3-4 22. Setters 4 0-0 9. Walker 1 2-2 4. KaPoynter 2 0-0 4. CScheets 2 0-0 4. JScheets 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 7-10 45.
DONIPHAN — Smith 5 0-1 11. Moore 2 0-0 5. Patterson 1 1-1 3. Hutchins 1 0-0 2. Wilfong 4 4-6 12. Davis 7 4-7 19. Totals 20 9-15 52.
3-pointers: Houston 2 (KyPoynter, Setters); Doniphan 3 (Smith, Moore, Davis).
Friday’s game
Salem 4 10 11 20 15 — 60
Houston 12 10 9 14 7 — 52
SALEM — Patterson 3 4-6 10. Moser 5 5-6 16. West 4 0-0 8. Kissir 0 1-2 1. Kettner 0 1-4 1. Hombacker 4 16-20 24. Totals 16 27-38 60.
HOUSTON (4-8) — Van Horn 2 0-0 6. Jones 1 0-0 2. KyPoynter 9 10-11 29. Setters 3 0-0 9. Walker 0 2-4 2. KaPoynter 1 2-4 4. JScheets 1 0-1 2. Totals 17 14-20.
3-pointers: Salem 1 (Morton); Houston 4 (Van Horn 2, KyPoynter, Setters)
JUNIOR VARSITY
Monday’s game
Houston 9 5 7 8 — 29
Doniphan 7 16 12 10 — 45
HOUSTON — Preheim 3 0-2 6. Dunn 3 0-1 9. Ashworth 1 0-0 2. Smith 0 0-1 0. Kelly 3 1-1 7. Cooperman 2 0-0 5. Totals 12 1-5 29.
3-pointers: Houston 3 (Dunn 3).
Friday’s game
Salem 8 13 19 16 — 56
Houston 9 4 7 9 — 29
HOUSTON — Preheim 1 2-5 4. Jones 2 0-0 4. Dunn 2 0-0 6. Ashworth 2 0-0 4. Kelly 2 3-4 8. Cooperman 0 1-2 1. Walker 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 6-11 29.
3-pointers: Houston 3 (Dunn 2, Kelly).