The Mount Pleasant Tigers wrapped up the first round of district play in style on Friday posting their best offensive output of the season. The Tigers shot 52% (14-27) from behind the arc and 60% overall in a route of second place Tyler High to finish 7-0 halfway through district play.

Following a brawl with Texas High a week ago, the Tyler Lions were fielding a depleted squad and the Tigers quickly put the game on ice, winning the first two quarters 19-10 and 23-17. Kai Price opened the scoring with a layup after a Payton Chism steal and assist. The Tigers would get a stop and quickly go up 6-0 with a Reggie Webster drive and score followed by another steal by Chism and feed to Price for a dunk. Tyler would get on the board on the next possession with an and-1 layup to close within 6-3 but then the Tiger barrage would begin. Midway through the first quarter Webster would knock down the first of Mount Pleasant’s long-range attack to set the score at 11-5 and never look back. An 11-3 run would spur the Tigers on to take the first quarter and they would continue their onslaught to lead 42-27 at the half. It would be more Mount Pleasant in the third as they would hit four more three-point baskets to go up 60-37 entering the final quarter before finishing with a 23-13 fourth quarter to round out the win.

All Tiger starters scored in double figures on the night. Kelcey Morris led the Tigers with a team-high 18 points (8-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt) one rebound, 3 assists, and two steals putting him over the 1000-point mark for his career, a feat rarely accomplished by high school players. Payton Chism poured in 16 points (6-13 FG, 4-8 3Pt) three rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals and Carter Chism supplied 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-5 3Pt) four rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Kai Price was perfect from the field with 14 points (7-7 FG), 4 rebounds and one assist and Reggie Webster also notched 14 points (5-10 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT) with 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Other scorers were Jordyn Hurndon 7 points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt) and De’Keivous Heath with 2 points.

The Tigers bumped up the rankings to 5 in Class 5A over the weekend according to TABC and are ranked as high as 4 on MaxPreps. Mount Pleasant (26-0, 7-0) will begin the second round of district on Tuesday as they play host to Whitehouse (13-12, 3-4). The Tigers won the previous meeting against the Wildcats 60-34 back before the Christmas break. Games will begin with the freshmen at 5:00 PM, followed by the JV at 6:15 PM and the Varsity at 7:30 PM. All tickets can be purchased online at www.mpisd.net/athletic-tickets.