By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
The basketball season slipped away at the free-throw line on Tuesday for the Brownsville First Baptist Crusaders.
After he was fouled on a play as both teams battled for a loose rebound under the basket during the closing seconds, San Antonio Castle Hills’ Nathan Mumme sank two free throws with 3.8 seconds showing to lift his team over First Baptist 70-69 in a TAPPS Class 3A area-round playoff game at the Oliveira Park gym.
First Baptist attempted a half-court shot that missed the mark as time expired.
The Crusaders led virtually the entire game, but careless passes that resulted in turnovers and not converting free throws near the end cost them the game. They led by as many as 14 points, 47-33, when Brandon Diaz scored from underneath at the 6:51 mark of the third quarter.
The Crusaders, who were in the Top 10 of the TAPPS 3A state rankings earlier this season, ended the year at 16-10.
“This is a tough loss for our team,” First Baptist coach George Solis said. “I feel bad for our senior Jorge Barrios. Jorge and George Solis (my son) did a good job of leading us. Phillip Crumley and Brandon Diaz did an outstanding job for us (scoring and rebounding) in this game.
“I’m very proud of this team,” the coach added.
The Crusaders led 19-14 after one period and took a 42-33 advantage into intermission. They went into the final quarter leading 61-53 .
But the Eagles from San Antonio just wouldn’t be denied.
When First Baptist missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw situation while leading 69-68 with 19.5 seconds left, it opened the door for the visitors. And with only 3.8 seconds to go, when Mumme received an opportunity to put his team back in the lead for the first time since late in the opening quarter, he came through by swishing both free throws to make it a disappointing ending for the Crusaders.
Diaz, Barrios and Crumley led First Baptist with 20, 19 and 15 points, respectively. Barrios hit three 3-pointers.
Andrew Anderson led Castle Hills with 23 points. Teammates Mumme, Alex Anaya and Victor Farias added 13, 13 and 11 points, respectively. Anaya hit three 3-pointers and Mumme made one.
STAFF REPORTS
CLASS 5A Bi-District
Laredo Martin 67, Pace 50
In Class 5A bi-district playoff action Tuesday, the Pace High School Vikings were unable to get past Laredo Martin in a double-digit loss in Falfurrias.
Pace head coach Jose Ramirez said his team went into an uncharacteristic shooting slump in the first quarter as the Tigers built a 16-9 lead. The Vikings recovered over the course of the second frame, outscoring Martin 16-15 to end the first half.
“We started cold, (Martin) started hot,” Ramirez said of Pace’s shooting woes. “We had a lot of in-and-outs. Even on free throws. It was unreal. We were missing shots we usually make.”
The Tigers began creating space with a 17-15 scoring advantage in the third period before running away with the win with a 19-10 showing in the fourth. Nineteen of Martin’s points came from the free-throw line.
“They did a good job keeping us at bay,” Ramiez said of the Tigers. “Kudos to them. They earned the win.”
Pace junior Randy Aguilar led the Vikings with 17 points, and senior Andres Salgado added 14. Martin’s Luis Ortegon scored a game-high 26.