BOYS BASKETBALL: Odessa High overcomes late dry spell to take down Amarillo Tascosa

The Odessa High Bronchos overcame an extended dry spell Tuesday to hold off Amarillo Tascosa for a 52-49 victory at the OHS Fieldhouse in District 2-6A boys basketball action.

The Bronchos (19-6 overall, 3-1 district) moved into sole possession of second place in the 2-6A standings. Amarillo Tascosa (16-9, 2-2) dropped into a tie for third place with Midland High after losing its second game in a row, both road games in Odessa.

“It just took a full 32 minutes and a complete team effort,” Odessa High coach Jance Morris said. “We had guys step up off of the bench that haven’t played that many minutes this year. We told them at halftime that was the best half we played all year, and we finally put four (quarters) together, even though it got a little dicey at the end.”

Isaac Hernandez scored 22 points to lead Odessa High with Josh Cabello adding 11 points. That offset the 27-point performance by Amarillo Tascosa’s Cameron Brown, who hit eight 3-pointers.

Odessa High led 41-27 with 2:56 to go in the third quarter, but scored just three points over the next 9:35. The Rebels took advantage tying the game at 44 on Cameron Brown’s 3-pointer with 5:29 to go, and neither team scored for more than the next four minutes.

Kaleb Murry, who finished with six points, put Odessa High ahead to stay with a layup with 1:21 remaining. Memo Anaya, who scored seven points, blocked a shot by Clark Davidson, tipping the ball ahead to Murry, who raced in for the go-ahead basket. Murry also converted a one-and-one opportunity with 26.8 seconds to go after the Rebels closed to within a point.

“It feels good, it feels great,” Murry said, adding he had no thought on his breakaway other than to make the shot. “I just wanted to knock it down and be clutch.

“It was a good team win. I love my teammates and we’re coming for the district title.”

Brown hit four 3-pointers to give the Rebels a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Odessa High used an 11-2 run to go in front 20-14 with 4:12 left in the half. The Rebels tied it at 20 and twice got within a point before Cabello converted a three-point play and Hernandez added a late basket to lead 30-24 at halftime.

Odessa High opened the third quarter with an 11-3 run to take its biggest lead.

After Murry’s free throws in the final minute, the Rebels committed two turnovers when they had a chance to tie. Miguel Fonseca finally iced it for the Bronchos with a pair of free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining.

While Tueday’s victory boosted Odessa High’s standing in the district race, Morris said the Bronchos can’t afford a letdown.

“We can’t dig ourselves a hole,” Morris said. “We’ve got to protect home court and steal a couple on the road. That’s what we’ve been preaching since district started, so this was a very big win for us.

“We’ve got a really tough opponent (Wolfforth Frenship) coming in on Friday, so we’re going to be excited tonight but we’ve got to get back to work (Wednesday).”

Odessa High 52, Amarillo Tascosa 49

AMARILLO TASCOSA (16-9 overall, 2-2 District 2-6A)

Javin Tsago 1 0-0 3, J’Sean Miller 2 0-0 5, Chaunce Asuew 1 0-2 2, Cameron Brown 9 1-2 27, BJ Anderson 3 0-2 6, Isaiah Johnson 1 0-0 3, Clark Davidson 1 2-2 4, Payton Dickerson 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 3-7 49.

ODESSA HIGH (19-6, 3-1)

Keionshay Jones 1 0-0 2, Isaac Hernandez 10 0-1 22, Josh Cabello 4 1-1 11, Kaleb Murry 2 2-4 6, Miguel Fonseca 0 2-2 2, Memo Anaya 3 1-2 7, Cole Bordner 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 6-10 52.

Tascosa……………… 12.. 14   11   12   —    49

Odessa High…………. 9.. 21   14     8   —    52

3-Point goals — Tascosa 11 (Brown 8, Tsago 1, Miller 1, Johnson 1); Odessa High 4 (Hernandez 2, Cabello 2). Total fouls — Tascosa: 14; Odessa High: 7. Fouled out — None. Technical fouls — None.

District 2-6A Standings

                                          Overall       District

Team                                 W      L      W        L

Permian……………………… 22      3        4        0

Odessa High………………. 19      6        3        1

Amarillo Tascosa………… 16      9        2        2

Midland High………………. 11    14        2        2

Wolfforth Frenship………… 13    14        1        3

Midland Lee…………………. 7    19        0        4

Tuesday, Jan. 23

Odessa High 52, Amarillo Tascosa 49

Permian 65, Midland Lee 37

Midland High 71, Wolfforth Frenship 53

Friday, Jan. 26

Wolfforth Frenship at Odessa High, 7:30 p.m.

Permian at Midland High, 7:30 p.m.

Midland Lee at Amarillo Tascosa, 7:30 p.m.