The Olton Mustangs’ varsity basketball team grinding through the Nazareth Tournament varsity boy’s bracket, making their way to the Championship Game on Saturday night, where they fell to 4A Lubbock Cooper-Liberty, 6347.
With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 8-1 overall on the year.
Jackson Funk opened the contest with a lay-up for the Patriots off of the inbound pass under the basket and on their next possession, Tookie Johnson was fouled on a put- back attempt by Sebastian Sparkman. He converted both shots at the line to put Liberty in front, 4- 0, but Johnathan Cooper answered with a three from the top of the key to make it a one-point game, 4-3, with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter.
Koleman Hendrix was called for a charge, but he was able to recover, and on a turnover by Sparkman, Hendrix threw down a one-handed slam dunk to push their lead back out to, 6- 3. Luke Livingston dropped in a lay-up in transition, but on the other end, Sparkman was fouled on an attempt by Hendrix, his second. Sparkman would sink both free throws for Olton to trim the lead to, 8-5, with just over four minutes to play in the quarter.
Cy Leach dropped in a lay-up for Liberty and Pierce Fioroni followed it up with another lay-up, as Olton took a time out with 2:29 to play in the first quarter, trailing the Patriots, 12-5. Out of the break, Raymond Ramirez took a charge on Johnson, but Liberty responded with a putback by Leach to stretch their lead to, 14-5.
With under a minute to play in the quarter, Alan Vasquez drained a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Sparkman, trimming the lead to, 14-8, as the first quarter came to a close.
Jayden Ellis opened the second frame with a three from the left wing off of the assist from Johnson and he followed it up with another three from the left elbow to push their lead to, 20-8, with 6:25 remaining in the first half. Jeremy Donai was fouled on an attempt by Wyatt Nelson and he split the free throws, extending the lead to, 21-8.
Sparkman knocked down a three from the top of the key off of the assist from Ramirez to make it a 10point game, 21-11, but after the play, Nelson was called for an intentional foul, putting Donai on the line for a pair of free throws. He sank both shots at the line and Ellis followed it up with a three from the right wing off of an inbound play, stretching the lead to, 26-11.
Cooper dropped in a floater in the lane for Olton and Sparkman followed it up with a lay-up off of a steal, cutting the lead to, 26-15, with 4:42 to play in the half. Liberty, though, would go on a tear, as Johnson and Fioroni dropped in back-to-back lay-ups, pushing the lead to, 30-15. Johnson would followed it up with a steal from Sparkman, taking it the other way for the fast-break. He was fouled on the attempt by Sparkman and sank both free throws, pushing the lead to, 32-15, as Olton took a time out to talk things over.
Out of the break, Funk dropped in a lay-up in transition for Liberty and on their next possession, Hendrix was fouled on the floor by Cooper. He made one-of-two shots at the line, making the score, 35-15. With just over a minute to play in the quarter, Vasquez dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Ramirez and drew an and-one foul on Donai. He converted the free throw to make the score, 35-18, going into the locker room at halftime.
Liberty opened the second half on a, 4- 0, scoring run, before Vasquez was fouled on an attempt by Hendrix, his third. He made oneof- two shots from the line, making the score, 39-19, with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Ellis dropped in another lay-up for Liberty, drawing an and-one foul on Nelson, his third. He converted the free throw, extending the lead to, 42-19. Olton would respond, as Nelson hit Cooper in transition for a lay-up to cut the lead in half, 42-21. Johnson banked in a jumper from the left elbow, but Santi Jimenez drained a three from the right wing for Olton, trimming the lead to, 4424.
Liberty would score four consecutive points, before Jimenez dropped in a lay-up to make the score, 48-26, with just over three minutes to play in the quarter. Zayden Falcon was fouled on the floor by Camren Colley and converted one-of-two shots from the line, making the score, 48-27. With 1:51 left to play in the third, Leach dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from Ellis, but on the other end, Jimenez was fouled on an attempt by Donai, his third. He converted both shots at the line to trim the lead to, 50-29.
Liberty took a time out with 1:19 to play in the third, and out of the break, Ellis was fouled on the floor by Ramirez. He made one-of-two shots at the line to push the Patriots’ lead to, 51-29. In the closing seconds of the quarter, Vasquez was fouled on an attempt by Hendrix, his fourth. He converted both shots at the line to trim the lead to, 51-31, going into the final quarter of play.
Ramirez drained a three from the left wing to open the fourth quarter, but Liberty answered with a lay-up in transition to make the score, 5334. Vasquez tipped an offensive rebound to Cooper, who dropped in a lay-up with 7:10 remaining in the contest, but Liberty again answered, as Ellis dropped in a runner from the left side and Johnson drew a shooting foul on their next possession on Sparkman. He sank both attempts from the line, making the score, 57-36.
Sparkman was fouled on the other end by Johnson, his third; he made one-of-two shots from the line to cut the lead to, 57-37, with just under six minutes remaining in the game. Vasquez took a charge on Johnson, his fourth, but Liberty would regain possession, as Funk dropped in a put-back to make the score, 59-37. Sparkman drove the lane and kicked it out to Brady Azam for a three from the right wing and on their next possession, Sparkman hit a cutting Vasquez, who was fouled on the shot attempt by Donai, his fourth. Vasquez made one-of-two shots from the line, trimming the lead to, 59-41.
Fioroni banked in a floater from the left elbow, but Sparkman answered with a bucket for Olton to make the score, 61-43. With just over a minute remaining, Falcon was fouled on an attempt by Colley, his third. He made one-of-two shots from the line and followed it up with a three from the left elbow to trim the lead to, 61-47.
However, in the closing seconds, Donai scored on a long inbound pass, as Olton fell in the Nazareth Tournament Championship to Liberty, 63-47. The Mustangs defeated Ascension Academy in the opening round of the Tournament, 54-31, and they followed it up with a win over the host team Swifts, 54-31. On day two of the Tournament, they took down Henrietta, 57-37, to advance to the Championship game.
In the Championship game, they were led by Sparkman and Vasquez, who each tallied 10 points, while Cooper poured in nine points and Jimenez chipped in seven points. Falcon tallied five points, while Ramirez and Azam each finished with three points.
The Mustangs were back in action on Tuesday to take on the Idalou Wildcats. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Thursday when they begin play at the Whitharral Invitational. Brackets are TBA.