Round Rock Grinds Out Key District Win Over Vandegrift

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Defense, tempo lift Dragons over Vandegrift</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>January district basketball is about toughness, discipline, and valuing possessions. That formula defined this defensive slugfest between Round Rock and Vandegrift. With every shot contested and rhythm hard to find, Round Rock controlled tempo from start to finish, leaning on balance and execution to secure a critical district win that keeps the Dragons in the hunt near the top of a loaded league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>First Half: Defense and Energy</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening half was a battle of schemes and effort. Vandergrift opened with zone looks designed to limit backcourt penetration, slowing Round Rock early. The Dragons answered with physical man-to-man defense, taking away easy baskets and forcing tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Momentum shifted when junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2556515' first='Teyo' last='Barnett']</strong> came off the bench and changed the game with pure effort. He sparked Round Rock with steals that led to baskets, key blocks, and relentless pursuit of 50/50 balls. His activity flipped the energy on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That spark allowed senior point guard <strong>Matt Holland</strong> to settle in and manage the game. Holland showed patience against the zone, getting into the paint for midrange jumpers, finishes, and trips to the free-throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vandegrift stayed competitive behind senior guard <strong>Henry DeFoore</strong>, whose penetration created opportunities for senior guard <strong>Trey Block</strong> and sophomore big man <strong>Vinny Marasco</strong>. Senior forward <strong>Hayden [player_tooltip player_id='2382174' first='Brennan' last='']</strong> struggled offensively early but made his impact felt on the glass and as a rim protector.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Round Rock closed the half with timely contributions from Sr Guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2556513' first='Aaron' last='Epstein']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2556514' first='Luke' last='Reeve']</strong>, combining defensive stops and efficient scoring to take a narrow halftime lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3415107,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/Screen-Shot-2026-01-19-at-10.56.10-AM-crop-856x563-1768842190.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/Screen-Shot-2026-01-19-at-10.56.10-AM-crop-856x563-1768842190.png?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3415107" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Second Half: Control and Composure</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half remained physical and deliberate. Vandegrift continued to change defenses, rotating between 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones to disrupt rhythm. Round Rock countered with composure, relying on Holland's decision-making to consistently break down the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a quiet first half, Soph Guard <strong>Max Lipnitskey</strong> provided a lift in the third quarter with key baskets and solid defensive play. Vandegrift answered with increased energy, particularly from junior guard <strong>Maddox Aronica</strong>, who made hustle plays on both ends, defending, attacking loose balls, and providing a spark that helped keep the Vipers within reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382174' first='Brennan' last=''] found his stride late in the third with post scores, put-backs, and high-motor plays, supported by <strong>Preston Kuykendoll</strong> and Defoore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Fourth Quarter: Senior Leadership Finishes</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vandegrift made a push, but the fourth quarter belonged to Round Rock. Holland took control, breaking down the defense with strong penetration, smart reads, and timely perimeter shooting. Barnett continued to impact winning on every possession—defending, rebounding, and attacking the rim, capping the night with a powerful late dunk that energized the home crowd and put the game away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams will meet again on <strong>February 17</strong>, a rematch that could carry playoff seeding implications. In a district where every possession matters, both programs have the pieces for postseason success, but as this game showed, nothing comes easy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->