It was another good week for the Yantis basketball teams as the girls locked up a playoff spot and the boys pulled to within one game of an undefeated district season. Both squads hosted Avinger for Senior Night last Tuesday and both squads came away with victories. The boys team routed the Indians 73-31 and the girls team fought hard for a 44-35 victory and second-place finish in District 24-A.

BOYS

The boys team got to work quickly and took an 11-point lead after the first period off a 15-4 run. The Owls continued to dominate in the second period with a 21-7 run that resulted in a 25-point halftime lead.

It did not get any easier for Avinger in the second half as the Owls stretched their lead to 21 points after three periods thanks to a 26-10 run coming out of halftime. The Owls played keep-away in the final period before celebrating the 42-point victory.

Yantis (19-7, 7-0) traveled to Fruitvale Tuesday, after Monitor press time, for the final game of the regular season. The Owls can clinch an undefeated district record and achieve the 20-win mark with a victory over Fruitvale.

GIRLS

The Lady Owls got off to hot start against Avinger last Tuesday. Yantis had runs of 10-3 and 16-3 in the first half to give them a 20-point lead at halftime. The Lady Indians managed to cut into the lead during the third period and almost rallied for an upset victory but the Lady Owls held firm and held onto the nine-point win.

Yantis (11-11, 5-3) secured a playoff spot against Miller Grove to open the 2017 UIL girls basketball playoffs. The Lady Owls lost a warmup game Friday against Rivercrest, 46-44, before they traveled Monday to Edgewood for the playoff match against Miller Grove (after Monitor presstime).