By Moses Leos III
Thirty-two minutes wasn’t enough Tuesday for the Lehman Lobos and McCallum Knights to settle their non-district game at McCallum High.
But McCallum’s ability to hit critical shots in overtime launched the Knights past Lehman 65-62.
A trio of Lobos scored in double figures, led by senior Aaron Rodriguez’s 19 point effort. Sophomores John Rendon and Tracy Malrey each scored ten.
Lehman couldn’t corral McCallum guard Mike Watson, who scored six of his game high 18 points in the overtime session.
The Lobos kept pace with McCallum in the early going by working against McCallum’s press.
Lobo head coach Mike Whitten said the team’s focus was to spread to the floor. Strong passing and off-the-ball movement also played a factor.
McCallum held a 15-14 lead after a quarter of play. Lehman scrapped its way back and tied the score at 18-18 with five minutes left before halftime.
But the Knights countered with a 12-3 run to take a 30-21 lead. The Knights led 32-23 at halftime and held momentum.
Whitten cited fatigue as a factor for the letdown. His decision to play a smaller lineup in the second half ignited the Lobos in the third frame.
McCallum led 36-27 in the third quarter before Lehman bounced back. Lehman went on a 10-0 run to close the third quarter, aided by a tenacious Lehman defense that forced Knight turnovers. The Lobos led 37-36 after three quarters.
Pushing the ball forward with Rodriguez helped Lehman’s rally. Whitten said the smaller, quicker lineup helped the Lobos gain transition buckets that got them back in contention.
It set the stage for a frenetic fourth quarter that featured three lead changes and two ties. Rodriguez guided the Lobos to take a 51-48 lead with under a minute to play.
Knight guard Roman Zamora, however, kept McCalllum afloat by hitting a pair of critical three pointers. That included a three pointer that tied the score at 51-51. The teams went into overtime tied at 53.
But a four-point spurt from McCallum late in overtime sealed the deal. A bucket from Watson off of a turnover, which gave them a 63-61 lead, highlighted the Knights’ run.
McCallum hit crucial free throws down the stretch to win the game.
For Whitten, the experience gained could play a key role as they begin district play against Hays Tuesday. Rodriguez said the goal will be to get off to a good start.
“Our problem is we let (opponents) start out fast and we have to play catch- up,” Rodriguez said. “We just need to take control.”
