Defense is the name of the game for Alvarado's boys basketball team, and the Indians turned in another strong effort Tuesday night at Kennedale.

Alvarado's defense limited defending District 8-3A champion Kennedale in the first three quarters, then made plays late for a 57-53 victory.

The win kept the Indians (15-13, 6-0) perfect in district play and completes a sweep of the Wildcats. Alvarado hosts Hillsboro Friday and plays Tuesday at Venus.

“We are exactly where we need to be right now,” Alvarado coach Michael Seibert said. “We are in position to make the playoffs but there are still a lot of games to be played.”

The Indians are seeking their second playoff appearance since 2000. Alvarado lost to Lake Worth, 67-48, last season in a bi-district playoff at North Crowley.

“It was a very hard fought win,” Seibert said. “It was back and forth all night, but we were able to build a 27-20 halftime lead.”

Leading 38-32 heading into the fourth quarter, senior guard Ricky Handy (15 points) took over, scoring 10 points over three consecutive possessions to help forge a 10-point lead.

Kenndale didn't go down lightly as the Wildcats cut the lead to two points late. But senior guard Tyler Bates, who finished with a game-high 26 points, hit a pair of free throws with two seconds left to put the game away
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“A big part of our success is our defense,” Seibert said.
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“The pressure we have been able to put teams on has helped us this season.”

Seibert said the Indians pressure defense has been able to take teams out of their offensive game plan
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Leading 20-11 after one quarter of play on Friday, Alvarado turned up the defensive intensity in the final three quarters, outscoring Glen Rose, 51-35, on the way to the victory.

The Indians went on a 15-5 second-quarter run to take a 35-16 advantage into halftime.

“We had a good lead,” Seibert said. “We really played good defense in the third quarter.”

Senior guard Tyler Bates scored 15 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter as the Indians went on a 27-13 run.

Trailing 62-29, Glen Rose went on a 16-9 fourth-quarter run to keep things close.

Sophomore forward Xavier Adams finished with 17. The duo of Bates and Adams topped Glen Rose by two points. Handy tallied 10 points for the Indians.