HERMLEIGH — The Hermleigh Cardinals built a 10-point lead in regulation and held off District 12-1A rival Ira 53-49 in overtime Tuesday.
Hermleigh (11-11, 5-3) will host Highland Friday and Loraine Tuesday and are still in contention for a No. 2 seed in the district.
Ira (11-14, 5-3) needs one win in its final two games — at Westbrook Friday or Borden County Tuesday — to qualify for the playoffs.
The Cardinals led 11-8 after the first quarter and 25-17 at halftime. Ira used a 14-6 edge in the third quarter to tie the game at 31-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Hermleigh took a 47-44 lead on Chase Carr’s field goal with less than a minute to play. Ira’s Nathan Goodwin made a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left to force overtime.
The Bulldogs took the lead in overtime on Anthony Sosa’s field goal.
Dylan Sorrells scored three points, on a field goal and free throw, to give Hermleigh the lead for good. Matt Gonzales’s layup and an Eli Garza free throw gave Hermleigh a 53-49 lead.
“It’s been a crazy year with these young players maturing into varsity players,” Hermleigh head coach Sam Winters said. “The game was magnified because of how it affects the playoffs. Both teams played well. It was a good feeling to come away with a win. We got big plays from different players throughout the game.”
Ramiro Rios led Ira with 18 points, all on 3-pointers. Sosa had eight points and Goodwin added seven. The Bulldogs played overtime without starters Brayden Corley and Karson Valentine, who fouled out in regulation.
“We were shorthanded, but the players continued to play hard, and I’m proud of their effort,” Ira head coach Todd Wall said. “It was a tough situation for our players. They knew it was a big district game. We need to beat Westbrook. The players gave a great effort, especially when we trailed by 10 points at one time.”
Garza and Carr each scored 14 points for Hermleigh. Gonzales and Sorrells each had 11 points.
“This was one of the most intense games that I’ve every coached,” Winters said. “Luckily, momentum was on our side at the end of the game.”
Ira 8 9 14 16 2—49
Hermleligh 11 14 6 16 6—53
Ira scorers — Ramiro Rios 18, Karson Valentine 9, Anthony Sosa 8, Nathan Goodwin 7, Adam Highfield 4, Brayden Corley 2, Emanual Cabrera 1.
Hermleigh scorers — Eli Garza 14, Chase Carr 14, Matt Gonzales 11, Dylan Sorrells 11, Justin Wilson 2, Kelton Carroll 1.
JV
The Ira JV team defeated Hermleigh, 47-17.
Hunter McCowen led the Bulldogs with 14 points and Matthew Brazil had seven points.
Luis Gonzalez scored eight points for Hermleigh while Cameron Clement had four points.
Ira scorers — Hunter McCowen 14, Matthew Brazil 7, Anthony Coy 6, Garrett Hafer 4, Jonah Salazar 4, Ben Fonville 3, Isaac Cabrera 3, Raemi Castillo 2.
Hermleigh scorers — Luis Gonzalez 8, Cameron Clement 4, Tucker Barton 2, Blake Hancock 2, Cody Smith 1.