The Broncos have played some of their best basketball in each of the two playoff games they competed in last week. They seemed to have the games scripted as they turned both of them into nail-biters for the coaches and fans while keeping it completely in their control.
Junior T.J. Brown iced four free throws over the two games that was a definite turning point in each of the games. Against Shamrock the free throws came very late in the game and stole the momentum away from the Irish as the Broncos went on to take that game 59-54 to claim the Bi-District title.
Brown iced two more from the charity line with only three seconds left in the game against Boys Ranch to claim the Area title with the 57-56 overtime win.
In the Bi-District game Shamrock jumped out to take a big lead early on and led by seven at the end of the first period. But a huge second quarter for the Broncos allowed them to even up the score at the break at 30-30.
The Irish held the slight advantage going into the final minutes, but the Broncos were determined, and they would not be denied the win. Four Broncos finished in double figures.
“We never gave up,” Coach Colby Waldrop said. “They came out hot, and we stayed with them. They were playing with a lot of confidence. We were on an emotional roller coaster, but we came out on top in the end. This was a first playoff win in 10 years, and I am very proud of them.”
Scoring: LaDez Captain 14, Brad Sell 13, Danzel Wilson 10, T.J. Brown 10, Alton Gaines 4, Dalton Askew 4, Derrick Shelton 2, and David Gordon 2.
The Boys Ranch game was nearly a repeat of the Shamrock game, but this time the game went into overtime. The Rough Riders (who were ranked number eight in the state) looked to dominate early on, but the Broncos stayed close and only trailed by three points at the break.
Boys Ranch increased that lead in the third period with hopes of holding the Broncos at bay. But Clarendon had a different ending in mind and continued to battle hard to tie the game at 46-46 at the end of regulation.
With only 1:13 left on the clock in overtime, the Broncos were down by five points. They fought back to come within one point when the clock read only three seconds. It was enough time for Brown to sink two free throws to put the Broncos up by one point.
Boys Ranch made one last attempt to score, but the buzzer went off before the shot was made, and the Broncos were declared the champions.
“It was the gutsiest performance ever,” Waldrop said. “They never gave up. It was such an emotional win. David (Gordon) hit two huge free throws in the fourth quarter, and then T.J. hit what turned into be the biggest points of the game. I can’t even put into words how I felt about the way they all played. Derrick Shelton stepped up and had the biggest game of his life. I am just very proud of all of them.”
Scoring: Captain 19 (13 rebounds), Brown 15, (11 rebounds), Shelton 7, Sell 5, Gordon 4, Askew 3,Wilson 2, and Gaines 2.
The Broncos played a Regional Quarterfinal game against Vega in Amarillo on Tuesday night and were defeated, 45-28.
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