ARLINGTON – Oklahoma Sooners signee Kuol Atak scored 21 of his game-high 28 points to help lead the Haltom Buffalos past the Martin Warriors on the road 58-54 in a District 8-6A game on Friday. Haltom improved to 3-0 in district while Martin dropped to 1-2.
The Warriors had a hot start.
It looked like they couldn’t miss in the first quarter.
Martin started the game with a 7-0 run that included a baseline floater from RJ Mitchell. Haltom 6-9 forward Baron Smith Jr., who is a GM Sports player of the week this season, converted a 3-point play to get the Buffs on the board.
Aiden Groce hit a Martin three in the corner and the Warriors led 17-8 with 2:16 left in the opening period. Atak hit a turn around jumper and Jeremy Nyakundi hit from the baseline for Martin as the Warriors led 19-13 entering the second quarter.
Jayson Mathiesen and William Warren had threes for Martin to help the Warriors lead after one.
But Haltom crawled back in the second quarter. Jihre Smith drove to the hoop for bucket to make it 21-15 and a three by DQ Barnes cut the lead to three, which led to a Martin timeout. Another strong drive to the rim from Smith pulled the Buffs within 21-20.
Mitchell hit a corner three, but that was answered by a three from Haltom’s Antonio Luna.
Ashton Moore’s late floater for Haltom made the score 27-27 at the intermission.
Haltom took its first lead with a free throw by Baron Smith and then Atak hit a contested short jumper to give the Buffs a 30-27 lead early in the third. Atak scored nine points in the period. Baron Smith, who scored 13 points, hit a bank shot just inside the arc and Haltom had its largest lead at 37-29 midway through the third.
Smith Jr. was player of the week in mid December after posting 32 points and 26 rebounds in a game vs Lake Country. He’s a 3-star center by 247Sports and has offers from Boston University, Cal Poly, San Jose State and Utah State, and ranks in the Top 30 in the state for the 2024 class.
Despite things going Haltom’s way and the Buffs up eight, Martin never caved in.
Five straight points by Warren, including a three from 30 feet pulled the Warriors within 37-34. The Warriors cut the deficit to two on a three from Groce, who finished with eight points.
Haltom led 41-39 entering the final quarter.
Martin’s run extended to 12-4 following a tough layup from Nyakundi that tied it at 41-all. The Warriors also tied it at 43, however, they could never retake the lead against Haltom. Atak had a step back jumper and Nyakundi made a three-point play as Haltom kept a one-point margin with five minutes to play.
Mathiesen got a Martin steal and went coast to coast while finishing a lefty layup past Atak to trim the lead to three with 66 seconds left. Warren hit two free throws and it was still a three-point game with 38 seconds. Then the Warriors drew a charge and got the ball back. Warren made a bucket that pulled Martin within 55-4 with 27 seconds. Haltom led 57-54 after a pair of free throws by Atak with 15 seconds left.
The Warriors had one more offensive possession, but Warren’s 3-point attempt rimmed out and Atak secured the rebound and drew the foul. He hit 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to four.
Atak was 5 of 6 from the line in the fourth quarter. According to 247Sports, Atak is a 3-star power forward standing 6-9. He’s the 27th ranked power forward in the country and sixth best player in Texas.
Haltom went 8 of 12 as team while Martin was 4 of 6.
Nyakundi had 12 points for Martin, which will host Arlington Bowie on Tuesday.
Haltom looks to improve to 4-0 when the Buffs travel to Arlington Sam Houston on Tuesday.
