LIPAN – The short-handed Brownwood Lions tipped off their first basketball season under head coach Will Parker against perennial powerhouse Lipan Friday and dropped a 113-57 decision.
Lipan, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, returns 11 members of last season’s 27-6 state tournament team – the 12th in the program’s history.
The Lions trailed 20-12 after one quarter of the season opener, and faced a 41-24 halftime deficit. Lipan then erupted for 45 points in the third quarter alone to boost its advantage to 86-42, and the Indians tacked on 24 more points over the final eight minutes.
Brownwood received 18 points from Bryson Monroe, 16 points from Jakob Hataway, 12 points from Luke Moss, seven points from Seth Oines, and two points each from Christian Kinzler and Weston Burns
Lipan was sparked by 27 points from Garrett Smith, 17 each from Tripp Phillips, Cody Harwell and Tate Branson, 16 from Reese Cook and 12 points from Jadon Redwine.
The Lions (0-1) play their first home game at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Brownwood Coliseum against Class 3A No. 3 Brock. Brownwood’s contest is the first of a doubleheader, with the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets following with a 7 p.m. tilt against Southwestern.