Galveston Ball used some intense defensive pressure Tuesday night to power its way past Deer Park 75-55 in a non-district game.

With Ball’s 12-3 record, and Deer Park’s outstanding 10-3 record, many believed this would be the type of game you would not want to miss. However, the only thing missing was Deer Park's answer for the defensive pressure Ball threw at them.

“I think we came out with some pretty good focus and some great intensity,” Ball coach Jerald Temple said.

In the first quarter Ball took a 12-7 lead after a 4-0 run with just under four minutes to play. The Tors extended their lead even further as they went on an 8-2 run to close out the first quarter of play with a 20-9 lead.

In the second quarter Ball forward Tony Franklin began to assert himself down low, and at the 5:49 mark of the second quarter he scored off an offensive rebound putting Ball ahead 26-13.

“Tony Franklin really plays strong for us,” Temple said. “He commands so much attention.”

Deer Park was challenged to find an answer for the Ball big man and keep him from being the difference in the game.

Deer Park was not ready to see this one get away and after a Chris Cole block Deer Park headed down court on a fast break resulting in an easy basket. That got things going for Deer Park as they went on a 6-0 run leaving the Ball lead at 29-19 after a Natreon Moose 2-point basket.

With 20 seconds left in the half Deer Park's Ryan Reed sank a three-pointer that cut the Ball lead to 36-27. LaRoy Prior was not going to let Ball go into halftime quietly. With time running out he made a spectacular play as he took an offensive rebound and hit a 2-point basket just as the buzzer sounded extending the Ball lead to 38-27.

The second half was all Ball as they came out pressing and pushing the ball up the floor. Ball’s Michael Love was fouled at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter and sank both free throws and moments later he pulled down an offensive rebound and went right back up for a 2-point basket extending the Ball lead to 46-27.

Franklin continued to work hard down low as he pulled down several offensive and defensive rebounds.

“I just really wanted to establish myself in the paint,” he said. “I just started being more active on the boards and scoring in the paint.”

Deer Park turned it up a notch late in the third quarter and was able to cut the lead to 48-35 as Derrick Dartez scored on a fast break.

Ball answered back with back-to-back baskets pushing the lead out to 53-35 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

“We are able to put a lot of pressure on people without making a ton of silly mistakes,” Temple said.

Michael Littleton scored 18 points, Larry Durand 14 and Franklin 10 for Ball.

Reed led Deer Park with 16 points. 

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