Snyder boys clinch first playoff berth since 2008

Snyder is going to the basketball playoffs.

The Tigers (17-15, 3-5) clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2008 with a 51-47 win over Big Spring Friday night in a District 5-4A game.

“It is difficult to describe the feeling of finally qualifying for the playoffs,” Snyder head coach Lee Scott said. “I went into the dressing room after the game and didn’t know what to say to the players. They worked hard for this and could have given up when we went down by two points late in the game. We talked about staying the course and they did that and won the game.”

Christian Gaona scored with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 45-45. Big Spring ran the clock down to seven seconds before calling a timeout.

However, the Snyder defense prevented Big Spring from getting a shot off and the game went into overtime.

After Big Spring took a 47-45 lead in overtime, Nathan Kendrick tied the game at 47-47. Gaona made one free throw with 58 seconds left and 20 seconds later, he added another free throw to increase the lead to 49-47.

Gaona said he felt confident at the free-throw line.

“I felt confident going to the line,” he said. “I’m glad to help the team win and go to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The pressure was on when it was tied before making the first free throw in overtime. The  only thing going through my mind was making free throws for my team.” 

The Steers had an opportunity to tie the game, but Jeremiah Cooley missed a free throw. Kendrick’s lay-up with six seconds left sealed the win.

“We stayed calm and did what was needed during the fourth quarter and overtime,” Scott said. “We lost Trey (Samaniego) to injury and the players took up the slack. We talked about playing for the team and wanted to do it for each other. They didn’t back down. Even when Big Spring held the ball early in overtime, we stayed calm.”

Scott said one of the keys was keeping pressure on Big Spring.

“The team did a good job of getting back on defense and putting the pressure on Big Spring,” he said. “Nathan had been working at point guard during practice in case something like this would happen in a game. He got us into the offense and the team executed.”

Senior Cedrick Quiroz said he could not find the words to describe how it felt about reaching the playoffs.

“This means so much to me and the entire team,” Quiroz said. “This will be a stepping stone for the players to come. We want to keep it going and did this for the past teams which came close.”

Kendrick switched to point guard with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter when Samaniego hit his hand against the wall while chasing a loose ball.

“I was not nervous and did what I wanted to do: Help the team to finish the game and win,” Kendrick said. “We didn’t let off the pedal at the end of the game. It was very intense and the players knew what we needed to do.”

Teafale Lenard and Barron Wesley came off the bench to combine for 25 points. Lenard had 15 points while Wesley had 10.

While Snyder’s regular season is over, the playoff scenario for the district is not. Tuesday’s Sweetwater-Brownwood game will determine what will happen next. If Brownwood wins, Snyder and Sweetwater would finish in a tie for third place and a one-game playoff will determine the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.

Big Spring    11    15    10    9    2—47

Snyder    7    19    6    13    6—51

Big Spring scorers — Dimas Garcia 16, C.J. Harris 10, Jeremiah Cooley 6, John Ibonez 5, Abel Clark 4, Javone Ford 3, Zephaniah Nelson 3.

Snyder scorers — Teafale Lenard 15, Barron Wesley 10, Nathan Kendrick 8, Christian Gaona 7, Trey Samaniego 6, Talon Vandygriff 5.

JV

The Snyder JV defeated Big Spring, 66-50.

Christian Escobedo was one of four players in double figures with 16 points. Christian Zapata had 15 points while Kobe Roemisch scored 13 points and Joey Selvera added 10 points.

Snyder scorers — Christian Escobedo 16, Christian Zapata 15, Kobe Roemisch 13, Joey Selvera 10, Sammy Sosa 7, Cory Landin 5.