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Photos by Nicole Flowers
February 6, 2025
Bulldogs stay alive in playoff race with win over Navarro
By Bandera Prophet Staff
The Bandera boys basketball team stayed alive in the District 26-4A playoff hunt Tuesday night, defeating Navarro 42-27 on Teacher Appreciation Night in Bandera.
In a game that was dominated by the Bulldogs’ defensive intensity from start to finish, it was a second-quarter offensive outbreak that gave Bandera the separation it needed in the win. The Bulldogs outscored Navarro 18-3 in the second, building a comfortable halftime lead that was never in doubt through the final two quarters.
“Our defense was outstanding and it put us in a great position to win,” Bandera Head Coach Brady Keane said. “We knew coming in that if we dominated on that end of the floor we’d be successful. The guys really bought into that and made it a priority from the get-go.”
Navarro led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter before Bandera’s J.T. Thomas connected on three consecutive 3-pointers early in the second. The Bulldogs forced nine turnovers in the frame, and held the Panthers to just 1-of-7 shooting from the field.
Thomas finished with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line and helped set the tone defensively for the Bulldogs while guarding the Navarro point guard. Senior Eli Salas was active on the defensive end as well, tallying four deflections and three steals to go along with a game-high 16 points, five assists and four rebounds.
“J.T. had a big game on both sides of the floor, and Eli did a great job of managing the offense and setting the tone offensively and defensively,” Keane said. “We got stops, forced turnovers and played with a lot of confidence.”
Junior James Bower added six points and four rebounds while getting the start for an injured Beau Bergfeld, and senior Gattlin Winkler had four points and two rebounds. Senior Hayden Winters added two points and an assist, and sophomore Cooper Franklin had four rebounds and an assist in the victory.
Defensively, Bandera forced 27 turnovers and held Navarro to an 0-for-3 mark from the 3-point line.
“Our identity all season long has been the way we compete defensively,” Keane said. “Making things tough on our opponents is what we take pride in. When we play at that level, we give ourselves a chance in every game.”
The Bulldogs needed a win to have a chance at competing for one of two postseason berths up for grabs in District 26-4A. Wimberley and Davenport have clinched a playoff position and are competing for a district championship, while Bandera, Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake and Navarro are all in striking distance for the final two spots.
The Bulldogs need at least one win in the final two games, and a Fredericksburg win over either Canyon Lake or Navarro, to force a play-in game. Bandera can clinch a playoff position outright with wins over both Davenport and Canyon Lake, but would need a Canyon Lake win over Fredericksburg and a Fredericksburg win over Navarro to avoid a play-in game.
Bandera will host Davenport on Friday, at 6:30 p.m., for Senior Night before traveling to Canyon Lake on Tuesday in the regular season finale.
“We let a couple close games slip away early in district that we should have,” Keane said. “But every game from here on out is a playoff game for us, and we are excited for the challenge. Our guys are locked in, and they know what’s at stake. We need all of our Bulldog fans to be in the stands getting loud on Senior Night, and we need a big road crowd Tuesday as well to help us finish things off the right way.”
In a game that was dominated by the Bulldogs’ defensive intensity from start to finish, it was a second-quarter offensive outbreak that gave Bandera the separation it needed in the win. The Bulldogs outscored Navarro 18-3 in the second, building a comfortable halftime lead that was never in doubt through the final two quarters.
“Our defense was outstanding and it put us in a great position to win,” Bandera Head Coach Brady Keane said. “We knew coming in that if we dominated on that end of the floor we’d be successful. The guys really bought into that and made it a priority from the get-go.”
Navarro led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter before Bandera’s J.T. Thomas connected on three consecutive 3-pointers early in the second. The Bulldogs forced nine turnovers in the frame, and held the Panthers to just 1-of-7 shooting from the field.
Thomas finished with 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line and helped set the tone defensively for the Bulldogs while guarding the Navarro point guard. Senior Eli Salas was active on the defensive end as well, tallying four deflections and three steals to go along with a game-high 16 points, five assists and four rebounds.
“J.T. had a big game on both sides of the floor, and Eli did a great job of managing the offense and setting the tone offensively and defensively,” Keane said. “We got stops, forced turnovers and played with a lot of confidence.”
Junior James Bower added six points and four rebounds while getting the start for an injured Beau Bergfeld, and senior Gattlin Winkler had four points and two rebounds. Senior Hayden Winters added two points and an assist, and sophomore Cooper Franklin had four rebounds and an assist in the victory.
Defensively, Bandera forced 27 turnovers and held Navarro to an 0-for-3 mark from the 3-point line.
“Our identity all season long has been the way we compete defensively,” Keane said. “Making things tough on our opponents is what we take pride in. When we play at that level, we give ourselves a chance in every game.”
The Bulldogs needed a win to have a chance at competing for one of two postseason berths up for grabs in District 26-4A. Wimberley and Davenport have clinched a playoff position and are competing for a district championship, while Bandera, Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake and Navarro are all in striking distance for the final two spots.
The Bulldogs need at least one win in the final two games, and a Fredericksburg win over either Canyon Lake or Navarro, to force a play-in game. Bandera can clinch a playoff position outright with wins over both Davenport and Canyon Lake, but would need a Canyon Lake win over Fredericksburg and a Fredericksburg win over Navarro to avoid a play-in game.
Bandera will host Davenport on Friday, at 6:30 p.m., for Senior Night before traveling to Canyon Lake on Tuesday in the regular season finale.
“We let a couple close games slip away early in district that we should have,” Keane said. “But every game from here on out is a playoff game for us, and we are excited for the challenge. Our guys are locked in, and they know what’s at stake. We need all of our Bulldog fans to be in the stands getting loud on Senior Night, and we need a big road crowd Tuesday as well to help us finish things off the right way.”