Longhorns edged by Foxes in overtime thriller

By Thomas Garcia

QCS Senior Writer

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Despite a Hail Mary three-point basket to send them into overtime, it was a short bench that led to the Longhorns 70-64 district loss to Fort Sumner/House Foxes Thursday at Logan.

"Our younger guys played outstanding," said Randy Robertson, Longhorns head coach. "We called upon them, and they stepped up when needed. I am proud of how we played."

Robertson said now the Longhorns will have to move on and prepare for their home game Saturday against the Dora Coyotes (15-5, 1-0).

The Longhorns (7-11, 1-1) were down to four players in the final moments of Thursday's District 6 2A game against the Foxes (17-3, 2-0).

"As we went into overtime, I told my team to be calm and play smart," said Brad Holland, Foxes head coach. "I feel our bench matched up well with Logan and held their own."

The Longhorns were in a short bench situation entering into overtime with Coltin Roach and Gabe Randolph fouling out in the fourth period.

It looked to be the final period as Foxes forward Brant West made a three-point basket with three seconds left in the game. West led the Foxes with 25 points.

With little more than a second, Longhorn guard Kyle Knight threw up one last shot from more than 70 feet away. The basketball wiped through the net as the buzzer sounded.

Knight said he looked at the clock and knew that he had no time to advance the ball any further.

"I just threw it up there and prayed," Knight said.

Knight's prayer, three of his eight points against the Foxes sent the Longhorns into overtime, but foul trouble would ultimately end their chances of a miracle win.

Knight, Jerome Earle, 13 points, and Chase Earle fouled out in the extra period and eighth grader Dante Sanchez was lost to injury.

Forced to foul to try and stop the clock, the Longhorns hoped that the Foxes would miss their free throws giving them a chance to close the gap.

The Foxes had trailed the Longhorns throughout most of the game. The Foxes were able to convert on their free throws making 14 of 26 in the final two periods.

"It is one of those fundamentals that could make or break you in these close games," Holland said.

Robertson said the momentum swinging the other way with time running out, the Longhorns had little option but to foul.

"The Foxes did a good job of making their free throws," Robertson said. "It was an area we were not so fortunate in, and it hurt us."

The Longhorns were 15 of 34 from the foul line.

Game time: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dora at Logan.

The Lady Longhorns will need to do a better job of boxing out on offense to secure the rebound and chance at a second shot against Dora on Saturday said Ryan Daugherty, Logan head coach.

Daugherty said rebounds and free throws will be important factors during the District 6 2-A home game against the Lady Coyotes (13-7, 1-0).

On Thursday, the Lady Longhorn (16-3, 2-0) beat the Fort Sumner/House Vixens 57-47 at Logan.

Against the Vixens (13-7, 1-1) the Lady Longhorns 11 of 27 from the foul line.

"We have to do a better job of making free throws," said Kylee Foote, Lady Longhorns power forward.

Foote led the Lady Longhorns offense with 22 points with Post Harlie Roach was second with 13 points.

Foote said making more of their free throws would have changed the entire play of the game. She said in the first half, the Vixens controlled the rebounds, limiting Logan's second shot chances.

"We are used to being the team with the larger size," Daugherty said. "The Vixens matched up well underneath with us, and we had to make an adjustment at half-time."

Foote said the Lady Coyotes will be a completely different team with new challenges for them to overcome.

"We have to be more aggressive on rebounds," Foote said. "Our bread and butter is our offense. We need to be stronger on defense to close out the game."

Game time: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dora at Logan