With under a minute left in the fourth quarter, the Breckenridge Buckaroos needed a play to seal their home victory. In a collaborative effort, the Bucks defense put the clamps on the Clyde Bulldogs offense to seal a 56-54 win.
The Buckaroos received standout performances from Jonas Arellano, with 22 points, and Jayton Hash, who finished with 13 points. Arellano hit three shots from beyond the arch and made all five free throws. Hash made two three-pointers and made three of six free throws. The teammates and a host of Buckaroos were able to outlast the Bulldogs in the final home game before the Thanksgiving break.
"I felt like we did a good job shutting them down defensively," Brent Lucas, head basketball coach said. "At the end, they were looking for the three, also had a drive to the basket, but we did good on the dribble, drive handoff, and switching off. We kept our head on the ball, bet them to the spot, and made them change directions. Our guys are gritty, physical, and it shows in our play."
The Buckaroos and Bulldogs were locked in an even contest, with the two teams deadlocked 13-13 after the first quarter. The two teams would continue the competitive play and at halftime were tied 30-30.
The Bucks began to gain separation from the Bulldogs after halftime adjustments. The team was able to outscore the Bulldogs, 20-15 in the third quarter, and went into the fourth quarter with a lead.
The Bucks entered the fourth quarter with a 50- 45 lead and knew they would need to play their best to notch a victory. The team used a strong defensive quarter and close defense to close the door on the Bulldog's hopes for a come from behind win.
The Buckaroos varsity team will host the Ranger Bulldogs at home on Friday, Dec. 4. The teams will then host the Archer City Wildcats on Tuesday, Dec. 8.
