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Hermleigh’s Matt Gonzales retrieves a loose ball during Saturday’s game against Ira. The Cardinals defeated the Bulldogs 45-42 in overtime.
IRA — Hermleigh head coach Sam Winters may want to use the same talk with his team during halftime of Saturday’s District 12-1A basketball game with Ira later in the season.
Hermleigh led 38-28 with two minutes left, but Ira rallied to tie the game at 40-40. Hermleigh outscored the Bulldogs 5-2 in overtime to claim the 45-42 win.
Ira’s Nathan Goodwin made four of his seven 3-pointers in the final two minutes. He missed a free throw that could have given the Bulldogs the lead. Hermleigh’s Brayden Corley was fouled late in the game, but missed the free throw and the game went into overtime.
Dylan Sorrells made a 3-pointer to start overtime and Hermleligh did not give up that lead.
“We responded in overtime,” Winters said. “Nathan was on fire and I thought we were in trouble. Our backs were against the wall before this game to stay alive for the playoffs. Ira is one of the teams we must beat to get there. It was a big road win."
Goodwin led the Bulldogs with a game-high 21 points. Ramiro Rios added nine points.
Hermleigh’s Eli Garza finished with 18 points while Sorrells added 11 points.
“Hermleigh played well and deserved to win,” Ira head coach Todd Wall said. “They had been struggling and were due for a good game. They captured energy from the girls’ game. Anthony Sosa was in foul trouble (fouling out with five minutes left in fourth quarter) and that was one of the differences in the game. Nathan was put in a tough situation, but he came through with the 3-pointers.”
Ira led 8-4 at the end of the first quarter and 18-14 at halftime.
The Cardinals gained the lead, 19-18, early in the third quarteron field goals by Garza and Genaro Olvera. Hermleigh increased the lead to 26-21 before Rios made a 3-pointer. Chase Carr’s field goal gave Hermleigh a 28-24 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“We had more patience in the second half and played our best defense so far this season,” Winters said. “It allowed us to convert on Ira’s misses and get extra possessions. We got the ball inside more and that benefitted us. Eli is a little guy, but very strong. We finished well. The players responded and played with a lot of heart.”
Wall said the loss was disappointing, but he believes his team can contend for the postseason.
“We want to get as many wins and hope our record is good enough at the end of the season,” Wall said. “This was a tough loss, especially at home.”
Hermleigh 4 10 14 12 5—45
Ira 8 10 6 16 2—42
Hermleigh scorers — Eli Garza 18, Dylan Sorrells 11, Chase Carr 7, Matt Gonzales 5, Kelton Carroll 2, Genaro Olvera 2.
Ira scorers — Nathan Goodwin 21, Ramiro Rios 9, Brayden Corley 5, Karson Valentine 5, Anthony Sosa 2.
JV
The Ira JV team defeated Hermleigh, 35-11.
Hunter McCowen scored 12 points for Ira.
Cody Smith led Hermleigh with seven points.
Hermleigh scorers — Cody Smith 7, Cameron Clement 2, Zach Harty 2.
Ira scorers — Hunter McCowen 12, Isaac Cabrera 8, Matthew Brazil 7, Anthony Coy 3, Garrett Hafer 2, Raemi Castillo 2, Ben Fonville 1.