FORT STOCKTON, TX — The San Angelo Central Lady Cats traveled to Fort Stockton on Monday, Feb. 13, to play their Bi-district round matchup against the El Paso Pebble Hills Lady Spartans at 1 p.m. The Lady Cats led throughout most of the game before some late-game heroics by the Lady Spartans defeated the 'Cats right at the buzzer at game's end. The Lady Cats fell 53-52.
Central kicked off the first half strong, jumping out to an 8-point lead midway through the second quarter. The ladies played tough defense, but their usual physicality seemed muted due to how tight the referees called the game. Jewel Perez found herself in foul trouble before the first half ended. The Lady Cats just before break were up by eight points.
The Lady Cats began the 3rd quarter with a 28-22 advantage. The Lady Spartans made some adjustments to their defense at halftime and succeeded in making Central incredibly uncomfortable. The 6-point lead evaporated quickly as turnovers and sloppy shots gave the Lady Spartans extra opportunities to score.
Central still held a 1-point lead at the start of the 4th quarter. El Paso took the lead with seven minutes to go in the game and increased that lead to as many as four points before Nevaeh Hearne made her presence known. Hearne entered the 4th quarter with four points, but that quickly changed. She regained the lead for the Lady Cats as time ran below three minutes.
Lady Cats' Jewels Perez
(Ryan Chadwick/San Angelo LIVE! Photo)
With less than 10 seconds left in regulation, the Lady Cats missed the go-ahead free throw to seal the game. The Lady Spartans sprinted the length of the floor and hit a buzzer-beater as time expired. The game went overtime, with the score knotted at 46-46.
Again Central played well in the overtime period. They got out to a slight advantage at the beginning of overtime and held it throughout. The Lady Cats forced Pebble Hills to foul with less than a minute to go to conserve time. Unfortunately for the Lady Cats, the majority of their free throw attempts were misses.
With less than six seconds left in overtime and down by two, the Lady Spartans grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw attempt and sprinted across the floor. Pebble Hills heaved up a three-pointer with less than 0.2 seconds left and sank the shot. The probability of making two shots at the buzzer in back-to-back periods is minuscule, but the Lady Spartans pulled it off 53-52.
As the Lady Cats experienced all the emotions that come after a devastating loss such as this one, the crowd cheered for the ladies. Central’s 8-game wining streak came to an end Monday afternoon, but what a successful season these ladies had this year. Coach Geter gave his thoughts on his team’s season and his thoughts on the game.
Nevaeh Hearne led the Lady Cats with 17 points, followed by Jewels Perez with 11 points.
Congratulations to the Lady Cats on an incredible season. Their 8-game win streak to finish district is among of the best stretches of basketball in their program's history. Coach Geter said it best, the Lady Cats are in a great place right now. The culture is changing, and the future looks bright.
Lady Cats vs El Paso Pebble Hills
(Ryan Chadwick/San Angelo LIVE! Photo)
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