It wasn't the prettiest start for the Freshman Red on Friday night, but good teams find ways to win even when they aren't firing on all cylinders. After a sluggish opening, the Tigers locked in down the stretch to secure a gutsy 47-42 victory over Killeen Ellison.

While the rhythm was off early, the Tigers' defense and timely buckets allowed them to hang around and eventually pull ahead. This "grind-it-out" mentality is exactly what's needed as the district race continues to tighten.

Top Performers
Ja'reus Mitchell: Led the scoring effort with 15 points, providing steady leadership when the offense stalled.

Bentley Stauffer: Poured in 10 points and came up big in key moments.

Brett Smith: Matched the effort with 10 points of his own, rounding out a balanced offensive attack.

The Tigers showed that "The Belton Tiger Way" isn't just about winning big—it's about having the heart to pull out the close ones when things get tough.