The Permian boys basketball team had gotten the better of rival Odessa High in each of the first three quarters of their District 2-6A game on Friday.
The host Panthers led by two points after one quarter, four at halftime and six after three quarters, the play of Ben Saldivar and Ryale Moses keeping the team in front.
The visiting Bronchos had seen enough and opened the fourth quarter with eight straight points to take the lead.
Permian responded with a run of seven straight to regain control … or so it thought.
Odessa High came roaring back and when the Bronchos’ Ivan Carreon turned a block into a fast break for teammate Naledge Jenkins, the game was tied after Jenkins converted a pair of free throws with 1:05 remaining to play.
With the packed stands roaring from above, the Panthers calmly worked the ball around the Bronchos’ defense and when Saldivar sent a 15-footer through the net for the lead, another roar cascaded down from the Permian faithful on the north side of the fieldhouse.
The Odessa High fans matched them moments later when Jordan Bruner lifted from the right wing and watched his 3-pointer bank in with five seconds remaining to lift the Bronchos to an improbable 50-49 victory.
Saldivar had one last chance to give the Panthers that victory, but his last-second attempt caromed harmlessly off the rim to set off a celebration by the visitors.
“I’m just proud of our kids executing our stuff they way they did tonight,” Odessa High coach Neal Welch said. “Jordan was able to bank that one in; I think it was his only one of the night, but it was at the right time.
“And Ben (Saldivar) is such a good player that when that shot left his hand I thought it was in. We have a lot of young guys and they played well tonight and this was such a tough, physical basketball game.”
The Bronchos improved to 18-11 overall, 3-2 in District 2-6A.
Ivan Carreon had 15 points to lead Odessa high, with Jtorian Deary-Johnson adding 14 to the victory.
Saldivar scored a game-high 21 points to lead Permian (15-10, 2-3).
Moses added 12 points to the Panthers’ effort.
“That was a playoff game, a playoff atmosphere tonight,” Permian head coach Steven Flores said. “They refs let them play and it was good to see and I thought it was a very good basketball game.
“It was just like last year, when they (Bronchos) won at the buzzer here. We missed some shots and now we are going to have to work hard to be able to get in the playoffs.”
>> Follow Lee Scheide on Twitter at @OALeeScheide
Odessa High 50, Permian 49
Friday, Permian Fieldhouse
ODESSA HIGH (18-11 overall, 3-2 District 2-6A)
Jtorian Deary-Johnson 6 2-2 14, Adrian Muzquiz 0 0-0 0, Jalen Warren 3 0-0 8, Ivan Carreon 6 3-3 15, Naledge Jenkins 2 2-2 6, Mason Wright 0 0-0 0, Jordan Bruner 2 2-4 7. Totals 19 9-11 50.
PERMIAN (15-10, 2-3)
Tabarie Jnoes 0 0-0 0, Ryale Moses 6 0-0 12, Ben Saldivar 8 2-3 21, J’Siah King 0 0-0 0, Jamibrione anderson 2 2-2 4, Javarian Beck 0 0-0 0, Elijah Minjarez 1 2-2 4, Race Herr 2 0-0 6. Totals 19 6-7 49.
Odessa High………………….12 — 12 — 8 — 18 — 50
Permian………………….. 14 — 14 — 10 — 11 — 49
3-Point goals — Odessa High 3 (Warren 2, Bruner 1), Permian 5 (Saldivar 3, Herr 2). Total fouls — Odessa High 9, Permian 14. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — Odessa High (Deary-Johnson).
