Just out of reach: Bucks drop home thriller to Dublin

The Breckenridge Buckaroos (16-12, 7-3) and Dublin Lions (12-15, 6-4) went toe-to-toe for four quarters, trading momentum swings, big shots and defensive stops in a game that never drifted more than a few possessions either way. But in the final minute, the break the Bucks needed stayed just out of reach as they fell 65-61 in a district thriller at home.

The Bucks opened the game Tuesday, Feb. 3, with strong interior play from Douglas White, who scored three early baskets, including a layup off a feed from Jaime Cruz, a putback and a hook shot. Christian Flores knocked down a corner three at the 5:01 mark, and Ryan Waller added another from deep with 51 seconds left. But Dublin’s transition game produced several quick scores, and the Lions held 1 20-15 lead after a quarter.

Breckenridge continued to match Dublin’s pace in the second quarter. Cruz scored in the paint, Waller finished underneath on a pass from Conor Salazar, and Cruz later buried a three from the wing. Waller added a midrange jumper and another bucket inside, and Flores drilled a three from the top of the key with 42 seconds left. Dublin answered with a corner three to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.

Head coach Brent Lucas said the constant back-and-forth flow was no surprise.

“We kind of play similar styles,” Lucas said. “The only difference is we don’t press in the three-quarter court as they do. We get by it, but when we get a rebound or a steal, we’re pushing it. Offensively, transition-wise, we’re very similar.”

White powered the Bucks early in the third with two more inside baskets, and Waller buried a deep three at the 6:28 mark. Hudson Woodward added a corner three off a kick-out from White, and Salazar also hit a three with just over a minute left. Later fouled on a buzzer-beating attempt from deep, Salazar knocked down two of his three free throws to pull Breckenridge within 49-46 entering the final quarter.

Flores opened the fourth quarter with another corner three, and Salazar followed with a quick layup to keep the Bucks within a possession. Waller then buried another three of his own to tie the game at 54-54 at the 4:53 mark. Moments later, a Salazar steal set up a transition chance that led to a missed three by Joseph Juneau – a miss the Lions turned into a fastbreak dunk, drawing a technical foul for hanging on the rim. Waller hit one of the technical free throws to keep the game within one.

But turnovers and missed opportunities began to pile up. White was fouled underneath but missed both free throws, and Dublin split several trips to the line to maintain a narrow edge. With 1:39 remaining, Flores drilled a clutch corner three off a Salazar assist to tie the game at 58-all, igniting the Bucks’ bench.

Lucas said the energy from the reserves was one of the night’s highlights.

“I thought he was great,” Lucas said of Flores. “We had dudes come in and fulfill their role, and I thought they played about as good as they could play. [Flores] hit a bunch of shots and kept us in it.”

Dublin answered with a steal and layup at the one-minute mark, then capitalized again after a missed Juneau three. Flores hit another deep three with 20 seconds left to make it 62-61, but Dublin hit one of two free throws on their next possession. The Lions then intercepted a midcourt pass from Salazar and converted a layup to seal the 65-61 final.

Lucas said the Bucks’ miscues and Dublin's ability to get downhill late, made the difference in the game.

“I just think we turned the ball over too much, and they came back and got us,” he said. “We fouled too much. And their No. 2 (Alex Teten), we couldn’t stop him from getting to the basket, no matter who we put on him. He’s a dang good player.”

Breckenridge played without Cooper Wimberley, who missed the game due to the flu, but Lucas praised his team’s effort.

“We might have missed Cooper a little bit, but that happens,” he said. “I liked our effort. I knew it was going to be a tough game and that it would be back-and-forth. Every time we play them, it’s like that.”

Despite the loss, the Bucks remain in third place in the district standings, though Lucas noted that the playoff structure means their finish won’t drastically change their postseason path.

“We’re still in third, but it really doesn’t matter with the way they’ve got the playoff stuff broken down,” he said. “We’re going to play the number one team in Division I anyway. We’ve just got to keep pushing.”

The Buckaroos travel to Millsap to face the Bulldogs in a key road game Friday, Feb. 6, before hosting Peaster and Comanche for their final home games next week. The regular season finale will take place at Tolar on Tuesday, Feb. 17.