Wranglers win in overtime

BORGER Carlos Rodriguez’s putback basket with three seconds remaining in overtime Thursday lifted the No. 15 Odessa College Wranglers to an 87-86 victory over the Frank Phillips College Plainsmen in Western Junior College Athletic Conference men’s basketball action.

The Wranglers (19-2 overall, 6-1 WJCAC) pushed their winning streak to eight games, completing a sweep of a tough-four game conference stretch that saw OC beat South Plains College and Midland College, both of which were ranked in the top five in the nation at the time.

“We didn't play our best, but we fought when we had to,” OC coach Dennis Helms said. “It’s one of those things where your overall play isn’t good enough to win, but your guts are good enough to win the game.

“It’s huge because it will help us later on knowing the importance that you’ve got to come out from the get-go.”

Jamel Guyton scored 23 points to lead OC, while Tommie Sykes added 17 points and Damien Williams 13. Sykes forced the extra period by making two free throws with 5.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 75.

Rodriguez finished with nine points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the final two minutes to help OC overcome an eight-point deficit. The Wranglers overcame an early 5-0 deficit and led briefly in the first half before FPC (14-7, 3-4) went on 13-2 run. Rodriguez’s second 3-pointer with 1:30 left in regulation started a flurry of four lead changes in a span of 68 seconds.

Reggie Burnett led all scorers with 26 points for FPC, hitting five 3-pointers. The Plainsmen hit nine 3s in the game.

No. 15 Odessa College 87, Frank Phillips College 86 (OT)

ODESSA COLLEGE (19-2, 6-1)

Delrico Lane 1-3 4-6 6, Jamel Guyton 8-13 4-4 23, Carlos Rodriguez 3-4 1-2 9, Devon McLendon 2-5 0-0 4, Jesse Joseph 4-6 0-1 8, Tommie Sykes 5-9 7-9 17, Damien Williams 5-13 3-4 13, Dexter McMarion 0-0 0-0 0, Jerel Blocker 1-4 3-8 7. Totals 31=61 19-26 87.

FRANK PHILLIPS COLLEGE (14-7, 3-4)

LeNeal Harris 2-8 5-6 9, Chris Smith 4-8 1-1 10, Johnny Johnson 6-10 0-0 13, Reggie Burnett 10-13 1-2 26, Robert Williams 1-2 2-2 4, Tigg Bunton 7-8 2-5 17, DeJuan Plummer 1-4 0-0 3, Chris Palmer 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 33-56 11-16 86.

Halftime — Frank Phillips College 40, Odessa College 38. Regulation — Odessa College 75, Frank Phillips College 75. 3-Point goals — OC 6-14 (Lane 0-1, Guyton 3-5, Rodriguez 2-2, McLendon 0-2, Blocker 1-4), FPC 9-17 (Harris 0-2, Smith 1-4, Johnson 1-1., Burnett 5-6, Bunton 1-1, Plummer 1-3). Total fouls — OC 17, FPC 22. Fouled out — R.Williams. Technical fouls — R.Williams, FPC bench. Rebounds — OC 31 (Lane 7), FPC 26 (Harris 5). Assists — OC 27 (Lane 11), FPC 23 (Burnett 7).