Bobcats down WO-S to force third-place playoff

[Bobcatfan4life]

Bobcats down WO-S to force third-place playoff

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

WEST ORANGE — It was do-or-die time for the Orangefield Bobcats Tuesday night at Mustang Gym.

Needing a win to force a third-place tie with West Orange-Stark, the Bobcats went into the Mustangs’ house and came away with a nail-biting 35-33 District 21-3A victory.

That will set up another battle between the two Orange County schools to settle the final playoff spot out of 21-3A.

The two will lock horns again Friday night at 7 p.m. at Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.

Both teams played stifling defense all night but the jitters got the best of them in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats (19-14, 5-5) missed the front end of three conseuctive one-in-ones from the free-throw line in the last 0:53. However, the Mustangs (21-11, 5-5) just got one shot off during that stretch as they committed three of their 16 turnovers in the last minute, enabling the Bobcats to hold on.

After Bryden Smith buried a three-pointer to give the Bobcats a 29-24 leading going into the fourth period, Orangefield was able to connect on just one field goal in the last eight minutes but it was good enough to fend off the cold-shooting Mustangs.

Mustang senior Marquest Watson pulled the Mustangs even at 33-33 with a three-pointer with 4:20 remaining. But after that, only two points were scored the rest of the way as Orangefield got a free throw apiece out of Tyler Angelle and Derrick Evans.

Guard Garrett Granger led the Bobcats with 10 points while Evans had nine. Zach Hayes contributed six points and five rebounds while Angelle also had five boards.

Justyin Francis came off the bench to lead the Mustangs with 10 points and a game-high six rebounds.

Donte Green had eight points and five boards for WO-S while leading scorer Watson was held to six points.

The Mustangs finished with a 27-22 rebounding edge. Orangefield committed one more turnover than the Mustangs as they had 17.

The Bobcats went just 8-of-15 from the free-throw line while the Mustangs were 4-of-6.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 13-8 lead at the end of the first quarter with Evans and Hayes combining for nine points.

Both squads scored eight points apiece in both the second and third periods.