Robert Lee Clinches Playoff Spot With Win Over Garden City 

ROBERT LEE, TX — Through all of the ups and downs of a wild district schedule, the Robert Lee Steers played their best basketball when it mattered most.

The Steers put together a clutch 9-0 run late Tuesday against Garden City to pull away for a 48-39 win that locked up the last playoff spot in District 11-1A.

Robert Lee had lost five district games by a combined 12 points, but the Steers knew they were in with a win against Garden City, and they found a way to get it done.

“We barely got in,” Robert Lee head coach Steven Hayes said. “We very well could have been district champs, or we could have been fifth place. It was pretty crazy. It was a very tough district, but it’s a fun district when you’re in (the playoffs).”

Water Valley was the district champ with a record of 11-1, while Veribest was second at 8-4. Robert Lee and Garden City finished tied for third at 7-5.

Fifth-place Irion County, which played in the regional final last year, lost to Water Valley on Tuesday, 47-43. Irion County had a chance to force a tie with Robert Lee for the final playoff spot with a win and a Steers’ loss, but the Hornets’ season is now over.

Even sixth-place Bronte managed wins over Robert Lee and Garden City, proving what a gauntlet it was in district play.

“I think this is the toughest district in 1A,” said Robert Lee’s Brenner Sherwood, who had a game-high 22 points against Garden City. “There’s going to be two teams that could probably go three rounds deep that aren’t going to make it.”

Robert Lee (16-10 overall) will open up the playoffs early next week in the 1A Division II bracket against Paint Rock or Rochelle.

Garden City (11-15 overall) will be in the 1A DI bracket against Menard or Eden.

Garden City clipped Robert Lee 53-50 in their first meeting this year, but the Bearkats didn’t take their first lead Tuesday until midway through the third quarter.

They led 30-27 after a 3-pointer by Jacob Talamantes, but Robert Lee closed the quarter with an 8-2 run to take a 35-32 lead into the fourth.

It remained a tight game with Robert Lee holding onto a 39-36 lead when Sherwood hit a huge 3-pointer with about five minutes to play.

It sparked a 9-0 run that extended the Steers’ lead to 12 points in a game that was close nearly all night.

“We hit some big shots and played some pretty good defense,” Hayes said. “(Garden City) likes to shoot the 3, and I thought we covered it pretty well. They still knocked some down, but we responded and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”

Sherwood led the way with 22 points, four steals and three assists, while Zach Eubanks had some big plays down low, finishing with 10 points and three blocks. 

Daltan Abalos had six points, including a tough layup to give Robert Lee the lead for good late in the third quarter.

“If we’re going to make a run, it can’t just be one guy, and we know that,” Hayes said. “It’s got to be good team basketball, and I feel like we’ve got that going at the end of the season.”

Garden City was led by Jayden Contreras with 11 points. Jacob Talamantes had eight points, while Jesiah Talamantes and Brik Fryar each had six.

Presley Jost didn’t score but dished out a game-high six assists.

Both of these teams won multiple playoff games last year. Garden City won four of them to reach the state semifinals, while Robert Lee won two of them before falling in the regional semifinals.

Both of them have a chance to make playoff runs again this season, especially after being tested for the last six weeks in their district.“

“Man, we’re all excited and relieved also, and we’re ready to go,” Sherwood said.

Robert Lee 48, Garden City 39

Garden City   7   12   13   7 — 39

Robert Lee   14   10   11   13 — 48

GARDEN CITY — Jacob Talamantes 8, Bronc Gass 3, Juan Barco 3, Brik Fryar 6, Jesiah Talamantes 6, Jayden Contreras 11, Kelton Fuchs 2. 

ROBERT LEE — Brenner Sherwood 22, Dalton Abalos 6, Max Garcia 4, Eli Bradshaw 2, Wyatt Bosworth 4, Zach Eubanks 10.