Chavez and Aldine got an early start in the bi-district round of playoffs as they faced off Monday night at the Campbell Center.

The Lobos took the 5A game from Aldine, 59-52, and Chavez coach Kevin Pullum couldn’t have been more proud.

“We are so proud of them and we thank God,” Pullum said. “God has been truly good to our team.”

Talent has also blessed the Lobos.

Michael Randle started the scoring with a three-point basket for Chavez. The Lobos jumped to a five-point lead when Eze Akwari sank a basket at mid quarter. Aldine’s Brandon Williams hit a three to trail by two. The Lobos held that two-point lead at the end of the quarter, 13-9.

“After our warm-up, we told the guys, whoever wants it the most is who is going to win,” Pullum said.

Donald Boston hit a three for Aldine in the second to take a one-point lead, but Chavez came back with six consecutive points. Boston sank another three just before halftime to lessen the Lobos’ lead.

“We said you’ve got to get out there and execute the play,” Pullum said. “You’ve got to show up and show the guys on the court that you really want it more than Aldine. And they did that tonight.”

The score remained close in the second half. Chavez jumped to an eight-point lead when Robert Martinez dropped a three. Aldine outscored the Lobos by four in the third and trailed by one at the end.

The fourth quarter was the highest scoring quarter as both teams didn’t want to go home in this one-and-out tournament.

Chavez’s Jared Maree sank one basket and two free throws to begin. The Lobos then went on 10-point run followed by a five-point run from Aldine’s Boston.

At two-minutes remaining, Chavez led 50-43. Aldine brought the score closer just one more time at the end of the quarter when Boston hit a three, was fouled, and made the free point to trail 57-52. The Mustangs shot four three-point shots but came up short each time as the clock ran out. Chavez won 59-52.

Pullum believes his team can make it far in the playoffs if they play as a team like they did tonight.

“The team can go very far if they play together,” Pullum said. “We always tell them, united we stand and divided we fall. And if we do that, we can go as far as we want. State is our dream. So we are just going to continue the dream and believe.”

Chavez will face the winner of Tuesday's Strake Jesuit-Katy Taylor game later this week.

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