The Mustangs waited until “Senior Night” to record their first district win of the season and send five happy seniors out with a smile on their face.
But it was a sophomore who helped those seniors end their high school basketball career with the big win. Anthony Anderson had a career best 28 points and led all scorers in the Mustangs 54-53 win over district rival Brownfield. The hot shooting Anderson nailed six 3-point baskets, added four more inside the arch, and was a perfect two of two from the charity stripe that added to his 28 points.
In the back and forth game the Mustangs were on top 13-11 at the end of the first quarter only to see the Cubs knot things up at 22-22 to enter halftime. The Mustangs went back on top 37-36 entering the final eight minutes of play before the Cubs outscored the Mustangs 12-11 in the final quarter that sent the game into a four minute overtime period.
The Mustangs only connected on two baskets in the overtime period, but they were both 3-point baskets by Anderson and Jacob Freeman. The Cubs countered with two 2-point baskets and could have sent the game into another overtime period but Pete Marroquin was off the mark on his second free throw after draining the first one with :03 showing on the clock. Enrique Banuelas came up with the rebound and quickly got the ball to Anderson who advanced it down court as the horn sounded to end the game.
The game was tied four times during the first quarter of play before the Mustangs had a two point advantage heading into the second quarter of play. The Cubs jumped out to a 20-13 lead following three consecutive 3-point baskets. The Mustangs countered with the same three consecutive 3-point baskets to tie things up 22-22 at intermission. Anderson hit two of those 3-point baskets while Elias Yanez hit the third one with 1:33 showing on the clock. In the second quarter alone 18 of the total 20 points from both teams came from beyond the arch.
The Cubs looked like they had complete control of the game as they jumped out to a 32-25 lead with 3:52 left in the third quarter. At that point the Mustangs closed out the quarter with a 10-4 run and were up 37-36 entering the final eight minutes of play.
Baskets by Freeman and Anderson gave the Mustangs a 44-38 lead with 3:53 left in the game, but just like that the Cubs countered with a 6-0 run and once again the game was knotted at 44-44 1:43 left in the contest.
The visiting Cubs had two more two point leads at the 1:40 and :26 mark on the clock. Freeman was fouled with :02 left in the game and after missing two previous free throws made good on a 1-1 opportunity that knotted the score at 48-48 and eventually the overtime period.
In the four minute overtime period the Cubs struck first early. Anderson answered with a 3-pont basket to put the Mustangs back up 51-50. Less than a minute later Freeman also connected on a 3-point basket and now the Mustangs were up 54-50. The Cubs scored with 1:28 showing on the clock and had a chance to knot things up once again with :33 showing on the clock, but missed both ends of a two shot free throw. Seconds later Nick Rodriquez missed the front end of a 1-1 that could have given the Mustangs a four point lead. That set the stage for Marroquin to tie things up once again with :03 showing on the clock. He connected on the first one, but his second attempt rimmed out giving the Mustangs the exciting one point win.
Freeman finished with 11 points, Elias Yanez tossed in seven points, Nick Rodriquez had four points while Andres Ortega and Enrique Banuelas both had two points. Banuelas also had the game winning rebound on the missed free throw.
Seniors Nick Rodriquez, Jacob Freeman, Fernny Vega, Elias Yanez, and Branden Lewis all played their last game as a Mustang.