Buzzer beaters, defense propel Lady Bucks past Panthers on Senior Night

In a back and forth contest, the Lady Bucks started slow, but finished strong and defeated the Paradise Panthers 48-40 last Friday at home.

Down 11-5 in the early minutes of the first quarter, Coach Chris Robertson of the Breckenridge Lady Buckaroos called the team’s first timeout to refocus the squad.

After the time out, the three-pointers started to go down for the Lady Bucks. Breckenridge’s Nayeli Hernandez and Lexi Shield pulled the team back into the game and brought the score 12-12 by the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Panthers go on a 13-5 run and take an eight-point lead with minutes left in the second quarter.

Down 25-17 with a few seconds left in the second quarter, Hernandez was open and nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Bucks momentum going into the halftime.

“We were moving slow. We needed to sprint and get to our spots,” Coach Robertson said, after the end of the 2nd quarter.  “We have to get after them and that will give us a better chance in the second half.”

The second half saw a completely different team, as the Lady Bucks opened the half on a 20-5 run.

Back-to-back steals from Mariah Baladez and Kylee Willis led to consecutive baskets for the Lady Bucks and put the team up 37-30.

With only seconds left in the third quarter, Baladez was open in the right corner of the court and hit a three-pointer, as time expired. The buzzer-beater was the second of the game for the Lady Bucks and gave the team distance going into the fourth quarter.

Consecutive layups by Aaliyah Lawson put the game out of reach and the Lady Bucks and their crowd celebrated as the team won their final home game.

“Anytime we want to assert our will, we can do it,” Coach Robertson said. “I told them they had 16 minutes left to play in a white jersey and that was it and I think that motivated them.”

After Tolar upset Jacksboro last Tuesday, the Lady Bucks were eliminated from playoff contention.

The team is not expected to make the playoffs, but Coach Robertson was extremely proud of the team.

“It has been one heck of a season. Getting a 20 win season is not normal and I try to tell the kids they should know what they have accomplished.”