The first two games this season between District 1-B foes Doyline and Castor had plenty of excitement and suspense.
Friday’s non-select Division V first-round playoff game between the Panthers and Tigers didn’t quite have the same excitement or suspense as the first two.
Doyline, the No. 5 seed, started and finished strong in a 65-44 victory over No. 28 Castor at Doyline.
The Panthers (24-3) will host No. 12 Hicks (21-15) in the second round next week. The Pirates defeated No. 21 Phoenix 68-66 in the first round.
Castor closed its season 13-18.
The Panthers and Tigers split their regular-season games. Castor won 71-63 at Castor. Doyline rallied for a 56-55 victory at Doyline.
Friday night, the Panthers jumped on the Tigers early, rolling to a 19-5 lead after the first quarter.
Castor played better in the second quarter, but Doyline was still ahead by 10 at the half.
The Tigers got within eight, 47-39, after three quarters. But the Panthers made sure there would be no suspense in the fourth, limiting the Tigers to six points.
Four Doyline players scored in double figures. Jay Patterson had 17, Cayden Mingo 16, Damarion McLendon 14 and Keidric Clark 10.
Mingo hit four 3-pointers, one in each quarter. McLendon was 7-of-8 from the free throw line. He made all four of his attempts in the fourth quarter.
Dawson Wood led Castor with 17 points.