By Moses Leos III
Four quarters wasn’t enough to settle Tuesday’s district opener between the Hays Rebels and the Lehman Lobos.
But clutch plays in overtime pushed Hays to a 54-50 win over crosstown rival Lehman in the Lobo Den.
Hays senior Nate Alvarado led all scorers with 17 points, including a critical three-pointer in overtime. Lehman senior Ivan Melendez scored a team-high 16 points on the night.
A slow, methodical pace dictated tempo for both teams on Tuesday. While the pace was a vast change from Hays’ uptempo style, head coach Sam Lunz said it’s an experience that could prove beneficial in the long run.
“In this district, there will be a lot of games just like that one. I’ve emphasized how important bench play is,” he said. “Once they grasp on to that and the importance of every minute and every second they play, I think we’ll be okay. We have the guys to be successful.”
Hays broke out to an early 10-2 lead, with the Rebels holding a 14-7 advantage into the second frame.
The Rebels’ lead expanded to 19-10 in the second following a three-pointer from senior Jake Krafka. Despite being outscored 7-5 down the stretch, Hays led 24-17 at halftime.
But Lehman fought back in the third quarter, aided by seven points from Melendez. A 10-2 run midway through the third frame gave the Lobos its first lead at 27-26.
Lobos head coach Thomas Acker said Melendez’s success stemmed from transition play. In addition, the Lobos fed the post, taking advantage of Rebel foul woes.
“When Ivan is locked in and he doesn’t try to do too much in the post, and he keeps things simple, he is really good,” Acker said.
But the Lobos struggled to capitalize on opportunities, especially at the charity stripe. Lehman went 6-of-16 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes.
Hays took advantage, climbing back to claim a 32-31 lead after three quarters. It set up a fast and furious final frame, as both teams combined for 25 points to force overtime.
But Hays made the big plays when it mattered most in the extra session. Trailing 48-44, Hays rallied for a 5-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Alvarado.
With a 51-50 lead, Hays junior Dustin Bruno snagged a critical rebound off a missed Rebel free throw. It allowed Hays to increase its lead to 53-50 and gain separation for good.
Hays sophomore Charles Bohannon scored 14 points. Lehman senior Robert Salinas finished with ten points.