With the clock running late in the fourth quarter during the Tuesday, December 8, varsity basketball game against the Archer City Wildcats, the Breckenridge Buckaroos needed a score to cut into the Wildcats’ four-point lead.
As the Bucks dribbled up the court, on the right side of the court, #13, Nathan Lechner, was open and nailed an open three-pointer to get the Bucks to a one-point game. The shot from beyond the arch was all the Buckaroos needed as they were able to outlast the Archer City Wildcats, 57-54.
“I knew we would play a much better team,” Brent Lucas, Buckaroos head basketball coach said. “I liked our fight. We were behind and could have folded our tent, but we bucked up and made some plays. We were able to get some rebounds, some put-backs, and some big free throws. I’m proud of our efforts as we are some scrappers. We’ll get better at the little stuff and the communication. We’re resilient and I like our attitude. We not negative about stuff, we just keep fighting.”
The Buckaroos jumped out to a seven-point lead but Archer City’s defense was able to stiffen and the game was tied 7-7 late into the first quarter. By the end of the first quarter, the Bucks were leading 9-7 in a highly competitive defense contest.
After a couple of layups by Archer City, the Wildcats took the lead midway through the second quarter, leading 13-11.
With the Buckaroos on the offensive, a foul on #35, Jerry Lawson, would put the Bucks at the charity stripe. Lawson was able to make one of two free throws to make the score, 12-13.
An offensive foul call by the officials on the Wildcats gave the Bucks the ball back and a three-pointer by #10, Zeke Castillo, gave the Bucks a, 15-13 lead.
In a back and forth contest, the Wildcats were able to tie the contest quickly and retake the lead. But, #35 Lawson was able to keep the score close with a layup to make the score, 17-19.
A foul on the Wildcats put #14, Jonas Arellano, at the free-throw line and he was able to nail one of two free throws to make the score, 18-19.
A foul on the Wildcats put #24, Anson Rodgers, at the foul line and he was able to convert both free throws to make the score, 20-19.
A steal by the Wildcats would give the team the lead and Breckenridge would trail, 23-22, at halftime.
The Bucks continued to trail, down 25-22, after an early bucket at the beginning of the third quarter. A layup by #Arellano bought the game closer at 24-28. After a slow start, Buckaroos’ senior, Arellano would begin to heat up. A baseline jumper from Arellano made the score, 28-30, with the Wildcats holding a two-point lead.
An offensive fastbreak by the Bucks made the score, 30-30, with under four minutes to play in the third quarter. Offensively, the Bucks would score two more times to make the score, 34-32. A made free throw and foul on by #13, Lechner, gave the Bucks a, 36-32, lead.
An easy layup by the Wildcats made the game close at, 36-35, and the third quarter would end with the Bucks leading by one. The Wildcats would tie the game before the Buck would take a one-point lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Free throws would give the Wildcats the lead and a turnover would extend the Wildcats lead, 43-40.
A foul on Arellano would propel the Bucks closer to a tied game as the Wildcats would only lead by one. A three-pointer by #13, Lechner, would give the Bucks a 47-46, lead with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
A free-throw shot by the Wildcats would retake the lead and a three-pointer in the Wildcats’ next possession would give them a four-point lead, late in the fourth quarter.
With the Bucks down four, a three-pointer by #14, Arellano, would bring the contest closer and make the score, 51-50, with the Wildcats with a small advantage with minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
With the clock running late in the fourth quarter, a pass to #13 Lechner would give the Bucks an opportunity for the lead. Lechner would make the three-pointer, and a missed foul shot by the Wildcats would allow the Bucks to keep the lead.
Making one of two free throws the Bucks would get the offensive rebound and welcome the international fouls as they would secure the victory, 57-54, improving the Buckaroos record to 7-2 on the season.
Up next, the Buckaroos will travel to Coleman on Friday, December 18, for one of the final non-district games of the season. The contest against the Bluecats will be the final game before the Christmas break.
“Hopefully, during the Christmas break, kids come to open gym,” Coach Lucas said. “I want us to be ready to play and hope we won’t have too much rust. After the break, we travel to play the Holliday Eagles in the district opener on Wednesday, December 30. We are about done with the pre-district games, but I’m looking forward to the games. I want us to pick up where we left off and shake off any rust from the five days off and get back to work.”
