TYLER, Texas-Texas High played about as well as it could have during a 36-point win over Pine Tree earlier this week.
The Tigers will need to step it up another notch against Red Oak during their Class 5A area game today at Tyler Junior College's Wagstaff Gym. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Texas High (28-8) routed Pine Tree, 90-54, and the Hawks (28-6) bounced Kaufman, 78-56, in the bi-district games.
"We played really well; we won by 36 and to improve on that is going to be tough," Tigers coach Keith Jones said. "Going into the second round, you're always going to see tougher opposition. We've got to carry out our game plan better, and we can't get into foul trouble in the first half."
Kyle Wright will start at point guard for the Tigers, Matt Arnold will be at a guard position, starting forwards will be Demarquis Vaughn and Cole Drumm, and C.J. Kelley will start at center.
Carlos Phillips, Caleb Arnold, Deunta Tucker and Octavien Richardson add depth at guard for Texas High, and Clayton Smith will help at post.
Guard Ben DePriest and forwards Aaron Meeks and Montarius Johnson were pulled up from the junior varsity for the postseason roster.
"Red Oak has two really good players: The point guard (Marcus Sasser) is committed with the University of Houston and another guard (Joshua Miller) is 6-5," Jones said. "We've got to be able to slow those guys down and defend those players. We've got to do a good job, as a team, defensively."
The winner plays either Lancaster or Nacogdoches in the regional quarterfinal round next week.
The game will be broadcast on KTXK 91.5 FM with pregame at 7:15 p.m.