Like with the progression of levels in Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. video game, basketball playoffs are increasingly difficult the further a team advances.
Pleasant Grove, after defeating Wills Point 58-49 in the bi-district round Tuesday, take on Tatum today at 7:30 p.m. in Hawk Gym in a Class 4A area game.
The two teams are familiar foes. The Hawks (21-9) defeated the Eagles 69-59 on Jan. 3 at Hawk Gym.
"Tatum played physical, but our kids came together and played as a family," PG head coach Billy Brewer said. "They have a 6-4 guy who is good; we want to keep him off the boards."
In its earlier win over the Eagles, Pleasant Grove out-rebounded Tatum, 26-24.
Senior guard Cory Jones along with junior guard Aaron Harmon paced the Hawks with 15 points apiece. Senior guard Connor Ouellette and senior forward Cameron Edwards
had 12 each.
"We want to keep the intensity up and play hard," Brewer said. "We want to limit our turnovers and create turnovers."
In the Jan. 3 game against Tatum, Pleasant Grove committed 17 turnovers to the Eagles' 22. The Hawks used a 25-point third quarter to take the lead for good after being down a point at the half.
Tonight's starters for PG are Jones, Aaron Harmon, Ouellette, Edwards and junior forward Xavier Benson. Benson has brought inside scoring and proficient rebounding to the Hawks this season. Benson had a team-high eight rebounds against Wills Point.
Aaron Harmon and Benson led Pleasant Grove in scoring in the bi-district round; they scored 13 points apiece. Ouellette added 11 and Jones scored 10.
Shay Rodgers poured in a game-high 23 points for Tatum in its 69-59 loss to the Hawks.
Likely starters for the Eagles are senior center Rodgers, sophomore point guard JaKobe Mitchell, sophomore guard OB Jones, junior shooting forward CJ Vandre and senior guard/forward Jordan Smith.
The game will be broadcast on KTRG 94.1 FM.