By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

MERKEL -- One need only look at the pre-game introductions to know why the Tigers have struggled this season.

Sporting a lofty line-up with three players over 6 feet 4 inches, the Merkel Badgers came one step closer to locking up their second straight district 3-3A crown with a 67-39 victory over the Tigers Tuesday.

To make matters worse, the Tigers were short-handed in the post as Tucker Early watched in street clothes with a shoulder injury.

Head coach Bud Birks said the Tigers (8-21, 0-8) tried several different methods for defending the Badgers (25-4, 8-0), all to no avail.

“We tried a zone, a chaser and man, but they shot very well,” he said, adding that the team again tried to put a chaser on guard Riley Lambert like they did in the first meeting betwe en the teams. “They made the adjustments. For the most part, I thought we battled hard.”

Chris Cobb and 6-6 post Ty Teaff combined for 31 points, while Lambert had seven.

Merkel never gave the Tigers any hope, rushing out to a 19-7 lead, extending it to a 23-point lead at halftime and 31 at the end of the third.

The Tigers scored 16 in the final period, after scoring just 23 in the first three.

Lee Scott paced Snyder with 13 points, and Garrett Pinson and Lico Castillo drained eight each. Austin Hatfield and Isaac Ramon recorded five apiece.

Birks said Merkel has a chance to make some noise come tournament time.

“They are a good team. They have the best guard in the league (Lambert) and they have a chance to do something,” he said. “There are three or four teams in this region that have a chance.”

The JV boys fell, 52-48 in overtime, despite a season-high 25 points from Dustyn Williams.