Westerners hold off Clarendon College

Isaiah Boissard missed two free throws with 25 seconds left in the game, but made two free throws with nine seconds remaining as Western Texas College held off Clarendon College 81-78 in a Western Junior College Athletic Conference basketball game.

“Isaiah missed two free throws and came back to make two,” WTC head coach Andre Owens said. “They were two big free throws. It forced Clarendon to shoot a 3-pointer at the end of the game. I need to find him and tell him that he did a great job.”

The Westerners (13-2, 2-0) survived Clarendon sharpshooter Reece Brooks, who scored 28 points. Brooks made 8-of-17 3-pointers, including three during the final 41 seconds.

“No. 3 (Brooks) is a great player,” Owens said. “He made tough 3-pointers late in the game.”

Ellis Jefferson added 16 points for Clarendon.

Clarendon College came into the game shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. WTC held the Bulldogs to 23 percent (9-of-38).

“We must get better at closing games,” Owens said. “Clarendon is a good team with good shooters. We played great defense.”

Miles McDougal scored 18 points for WTC while Nigel Allen scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half. Zac Saddler added 12 points and Jordon Fullerton scored 10 points.

“Nigel had a good second half and saved us again,” Owens said. “McDougal filled in well for Sergio El Darwich, who is injured.”

Fullerton’s field goal broke an 8-8 tie early in the first half and started a 12-2 run. WTC increased the lead to 32-20, but Clarendon used a 15-10 run to cut the lead to 45-42 at halftime.

The Westerners lost the lead early in the second half once, 47-45, but responded with a 14-7 run to take a 59-54 lead. With under one minute on the clock, Brooks made a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 75-68. McDougal answered with two free throws, but Brooks connected on another 3-pointer. An offensive foul against WTC gave Clarendon the ball and Brooks made his third 3-pointer in the final seconds.

WTC held a 79-75 lead when Jefferson converted a 3-point play, but Boissard’s free throws sealed the win.

The Westerners will play their first conference road game at New Mexico Junior College Thursday.

“Winning home games are very important, but we now go on the road,” Owens said. “It will be a battle every Monday and Thursday. We need to make more free throws and improve our rebounding.”

Clarendon College scorers — Reece Brooks 28, Ellis Jefferson 16, Xavier Trent 9, Jaquan Horn 7, Edwon Brady 6, David Carter 5, Donovan White Jr. 2, Paul Corbin Jr. 2, Tyreek Price 2, Thomas Clement 1. 

WTC scorers — Miles McDougal 18, Nigel Allen 17, Zac Saddler 12, Jordon Fullerton 10, Demarcus Hartfield 8, Ja’Niro Lane 5, Da’Rhon Mitchell 4, Isaiah Boissard 2, James Edwards 2, Johnnie Jones 2, Jack Neale 1.

WTC statistics — Miles MeDougal 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals; Isaiah Boissard 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Zac Saddler 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocked shots; Da’ Rhon Mitchell 4 rebounds; Demarcus Hartsfield 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot; James Edwards 1 rebound; Nigel Allen 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Jordon Fullerton 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot; Ja’Nira Lane 5 rebounds, 1 assist; Johnnie Jones 5 rebounds, 1 assist.