Freshman Lions win in overtime thriller

On Dec. 13, 2010, the Freshman Lions traveled to Smithville to take on the Tigers. The Lions defeated the Tigers in dramatic fashion with a final score of 49-48.

The Lions got off to a slow start in the first half, and could only muster two points in the second quarter, giving the Tigers a 24-14 lead at halftime.

But the Lions rallied in the second half, led by Josh G

uerrero and Johnny Schulze. Schulze had 12 points in the fourth quarter and hit a layup that tied the score and sent the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Lions traded baskets with the Tigers, until the Lion defense forced several turnovers that would be very costly for the Tigers.

The game came down to a final possession for the Lions. The biggest moment of the night came after a steal by Quincy Taylor. Kyle Parrish hit a 10-footer to give the Lions a one-point lead with 0.7 seconds left on the clock. The Tigers did manage to get off one final shot, but it rolled off the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Schulze led overall team scoring with 20 points on the night. Guerrero chipped in another 15. Taylor and Malik Hawkins each contributed four, while Ronald Bulter, Parrish and CJ McKinney each scored two. Braylon Moreno rounded out scoring for the Lions with one point.

“This game was a tale of two halves, we got off to a really slow start and fell behind early, but we followed that with arguably the best half we have played all year,” Coach Josh Billo said.

The Lions hosted Eastside Memorial on Monday, Dec. 20, and will open district play when they host Alamo Heights at the Lion’s Den on Friday, Dec. 31.
(Courtesy of Josh Billo)