Varsity Boys’ Basketball Wins in Buzzer Beater over Leander Lions 42-40

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  • Mason Flood ’19 reaches past a Leander player to tip the ball towards a waiting teammate.

  • Brandon Parks ’20 dribbles towards the basket to shoot a two-pointer.

  • Luke Durham ’19 attempts to catch team mates eye in order to pass the ball agains Leander’s defense.

  • Mason Flood ’19 jumps to shoot a three-pointer.

  • Patrick Sladek ’19 lines up the ball for a free throw.

  • Daniel Victor ’18 dribbles around a Lion defender.

  • Daniel Victor ’18 fakes Leander player out and passes the ball to Latham Robinson ’18.

  • Daniel Victor ’18 approaches the basket to score.

  • Pat Sladek ’19 passes ball to team mate Latham Robinson against Leander.

  • Latham Robinson ’18 looks past a defender for an open teammate under the basket.

  • Daniel Victor successful catches a pass from team mate in order to take the ball to the basket and score.

  • Christian Robinson ’20 is ready to snag a rebound while against Leander defense.

  • Patrick Sladek ’19 shoots free throws after being fouled in the game against Leander.

  • Zach Shrull ’19 passes ball while on offense against Leander.

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After the Warriors won the Leander tournament over the weekend (Dec 7-12), they sealed a win against the Leander Lions on Monday, Dec. 11, with a buzzer beater by Latham Robinson ‘18. This allowed the Warriors to conquer with an intense drive to prove their strength as a team after losing to the Lions the first time in the tournament.

“The most interesting part of the game last night was how we still managed to scrape and stay in the game, while having a horrible shooting night,” Zach Shrull ‘19 said. “I think for us that shows what kind of team we have, and our potential this season.”

To begin the first quarter, Robinson scored the first three-pointer of the game, with Santi Campos ‘20 quickly behind him to score the second and final two of the quarter. The Warriors held great defense throughout this quarter, only allowing seven points to slip past (7-5).

Considering the ball was passed back and forth throughout the first quarter, the Warriors were determined to push through and bring up the score. Daniel Victor ‘18 came out with a three-pointer to kickoff the second quarter, and quickly after scoring, he turned the ball back over into his possession to attempt another shot. Finishing off the quarter, Patrick Sladek ‘19 was fouled; he shot and made both shots ending the half closely behind, 17-12.

Coming out of the half, Shrull shot and made a three-pointer, bringing motivation back to the court for the Warriors. Quickly after, Sladek jumps for a two-pointer and no-rimmed it in. Immediately after, Sladek them scored again with a three-pointer. The quarter ended with the Warriors down my one at 28-27.

“I think [making my three-pointer] was a huge confidence boost for me personally, and for the whole team,” Shrull said.

To push the Warriors ahead in the final quarter, Victor shot and scored a three-pointer. Throughout the quarter the ball was continuously passed back and forth down the court, with both teams consistently fouling each other. Narrowing down to the final minute of the game, the Lions called a timeout when the score reached 40-36 — the Lions behind. Coming out of the timeout, the Lions scored a two-pointer and immediately called another timeout at 27 seconds. Entering the court again, the Lions scored and tied the game at 15 seconds, causing head coach Brad Hastings to call a timeout. Coming out of this final timeout, Robinson dribbled the ball down the court, and in the final second before the buzzer, he shot and scored a two-pointer to break the tie. This ending the score at 42-40, allowing the warriors to come home with yet another win.

“To begin the game with a two-pointer and end with a three-pointer it felt rewarding,” Robinson said. “Since i was able to help my team throughout the whole game and ultimately come out with the win.”

The varsity boys’ basketball team will face off against the Lehman Lobos at the Lobos home on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:00p.m.. Go Wood.