Terence Dill’s Houston Red Storm delivered a commanding performance at home, defeating the Texas Red Wolves, 126-111, on Gabriel Drayton Day. The victory was a total team effort defined by unselfish passing and interior dominance, delighting a massive home crowd that included Council Member Tiffany Thomas and numerous local youth groups.
Head Coach Dill praised the victory but focused immediately on the injury cycle and the highly anticipated road trip.
"This was our best offensive display of the season—43 assists and 52% from three is elite basketball, and it shows the team’s mental toughness," said Coach Dill. "However, the injury bug bit us again with Eric Williams going down. We need to evaluate him quickly because we have a huge rematch against the Midlothian Marshalls that requires us to be at full strength."
The Red Storm’s offense was electric, driven by two simultaneous double-doubles from their star forwards and the welcomed return of point guard Cam Moore:
Gabriel Drayton (Power Forward), the day’s honoree, delivered a powerful performance in the paint with 19 points and a team-leading 16 rebounds. His clutch two-point basket secured the final lead change early in the contest.
Dylan Spriggins (Captain) continued his elite production with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Cam Moore, returning to the lineup after missing the last game, orchestrated the offense masterfully, recording a season-high 19 assists.
The Red Storm established their presence immediately, winning the first quarter 33-21 on 15-24 shooting, and never trailed after halftime, cruising to a 69-62 lead before securing the victory with a definitive 12-point run early in the second half.
Gabriel Drayton spoke about the energy he drew from the community celebration:
"It was special to get this win on Drayton Day. The energy from the youth groups was infectious, and we channeled that into effort," Drayton said. "Getting 62 team rebounds shows we owned the paint, and that defensive focus is the only way we could get this 15-point victory."
The Red Storm showcased their most efficient ball movement of the season, recording an incredible 43 assists on 54 made baskets. They shot a scorching 52% from beyond the arc (14-27), with Gerry Glover and Brandon Thompson hitting multiple three-pointers. They also dominated the paint, hitting 40 of 70 two-point attempts.
Dylan Spriggins highlighted the difference Moore’s return made:
"Getting Cam back was huge for our rhythm; 43 assists speaks for itself. We were focused on sharing the ball, and my double-double was only possible because guys like Gabe and Cam were moving it perfectly. This is the offense we need to run every night."
In the fourth quarter, guard Gerry Glover provided the crucial finishing touch, scoring all 11 of his points in the final frame to ensure the Red Wolves could not rally.
Gerry Glover discussed stepping up late in the game:
"The fourth quarter is when you earn wins," Glover stated. "I was just taking the shots the offense created for me, and thankfully they fell. We needed that boost to put them away after such a tight first half."
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