Hondo Anvil Herald

Owls win a nailbiter; lose a blowout

 

By Jeff Berger

Anvil Herald Publisher

 

     A 16-point run in the final three minutes of the third period last Friday, Jan. 9, lifted the Hondo boys’ basketball team from a six-point deficit to a 10-point lead over Cotulla in the HHS gym.

     And while the Cowboys cut the gap back down to two points in the fourth quarter, the Owls never relinquished the lead, holding on for a 69-63 District 28-3A win.

     In another home game on Tuesday night, Jan. 13, Hondo hung tight with district-leading Crystal City for most of the first half. But the Javelinas exploded for 38 points in the third period and pulled away for a 104-64 runaway.

    This week, Hondo (6-18 season, 2-2 district) will go on the road for both of its games, visiting Natalia on Friday, Jan. 16, and Jourdanton on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Both are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.

     The lead between Hondo and Cotulla flipped back and forth several times in the first half, with the Cowboys hitting the locker room owning a 35-30 lead. With about three minutes left in the third, the Owls, trailing 45-39, caught fire. The defense forced numerous turnovers and the offense responded with a bucket every time down the floor. Only four Owls scored during the game, but all four – Josiah Quintanilla, Kolten Alvarez, Jeremiah Lopez and Markel Bradley – had big buckets during the run, as Hondo took a 55-45 lead.

Quintanilla finished with a season-high 28 points, followed by Alvarez with 16, Lopez with 14 and Bradley with 11.

     Tuesday night, the Owls stayed close to Crystal City in the first half, even taking a 31-29 lead midway through the second period. 

But leading by two with a minute to play in the half, the Javelinas scored five before the break to go up 44-37. That seven-point lead became 35 by the end of the third, at 82-47, thanks to a large share of Christopher Mena’s 44 points.

     Things got a little chippy in the final moments, so officials ended the contest with just over a minute left to play. 

Mason Barr finished with 17 points to lead the Owls, with 12 each from Lopez and Alvarez and 11 from Bradley.