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By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
Behind CJ Noland’s game-high 29 points, the No. 17 Waxahachie Runnin’ Indians ran their win streak to five games with a double-digit road victory Friday night in Mansfield.
And, thanks to a bit of an upset within District 7-6A, the win carried even more weight as Waxahachie readies for the final regular-season game of the season on Tuesday.
Noland scored 14-of-his-29 points in the fourth quarter to help the Runnin’ Indians outscore the Mansfield Summit Jaguars 24-14 and put the game on ice. Waxahachie entered the quarter with an uncomfortable 61-58 lead.
The Jaguars pulled the game close thanks in part to drilling seven three-pointers over the first three quarters, only to go cold from deep during the final eight minutes.
Junior guard Jalen Lake hit a pair of treys for the Runnin’ Indians and finished with 19 points, while AJ Russ scored 12, and senior point guard BJ Francis and Chris Pace each added 10. Sammy Kaoud and Preston Hodge each scored three and two points, respectively.
A LOOK AT THE STANDINGS
The victory improved the Runnin’ Indians to 27-6 on the season and 9-3 in District 7-6A. It also moved Waxahachie into sole possession of the second seed thanks to No. 16 DeSoto picking up a 61-56 road win against No. 13 South Grand Prairie.
No. 10 Grand Prairie did, however, officially clinch the outright 7-6A title by defeating Mansfield Lake Ridge, 68-32, in Mansfield.
The updated 7-6A standings are as follows:
1. Grand Prairie (11-1)
2. Waxahachie (9-3)
3. South Grand Prairie (8-4)
4. DeSoto (8-4)
—-eliminated—-
X. Cedar Hill (4-8)
X. Mansfield 3-9)
X. Mansfield Summit (3-9)
X. Mansfield Lake Ridge (2-10)
UP NEXT
The Runnin’ Indians will close out the regular season — and potentially the second seed in the 7-6A standings — at home Tuesday against No. 13 South Grand Prairie.
The Warriors won the first matchup 101-97 in four overtimes on Jan. 24. Waxahachie finished that game with four players due to multiple others fouling out.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday inside Mike Turner Gymnasium on the Waxahachie High School campus.
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
tsmith@kbec.com
