The Olton Mustangs’ varsity basketball team won a thriller in Farwell on Friday in front of a packed gym, as they took down the Steers, 58-54, to claim the District 3-2A title.
With the win, the Mustangs improve to 26-3 overall, 7-0 in district play.
Farwell’s Adrian Nunez opened the contest with a put-back, drawing an and-one foul on Jake Soliz. He coverted the free throw to put the Steers in front, 3-0, but Alex Santillan answered with a floater from the right elbow to cut the lead to, 3-2, with 5:23 remaining in the opening quarter. Corey Stancell dropped in a lay-up and Alec Actkinson followed it up with a lay-up on the left side to extend the Steer’s lead to, 7-2.
Waldrop followed it up with another lay-up for Farwell, but Brennon Huguley was able to end the drought for Olton with a layup, off of the assist from Santillan, trimming the lead to, 9-4, with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter. Juan Gaxiola dropped in a lay-up and followed it up with another basket in transition, off of the assist from Actkinson, pushing the Farwell lead back out to, 13-4. But, with time winding down in the quarter, Soliz knocked down a leaner from the right elbow in transition to cut the lead to, 13-6, as the first quarter came to a close.
Huguley took a charge on Leo Nunez to open the second quarter, and Soliz capitalized on the turnover, as he buried a three from the left elbow, off of the assist from Santillan, slicing the lead to, 13-9, with 7:27 remaining in the first half. Stancell knocked down a jumper from the right elbow, drawing an and-one foul on Santillan. He sank the free throw, stretching the Steer’s lead back out to, 16-9.
Adrian Nunez dropped in a putback, but Soliz answered with a three from the top of the key and Huguley followed it up with a drive to the basket for a lay-up to cut the lead to, 18-14, with 5:23 remaining in the half. Nick Casares came in off of the bench and drained a three from the top of the key, off of the assist from Soliz, making it a one-point game, 18-17, as Farwell took a time out with 4:54 remaining in the first half.
Out of the break, Huguley scored on a put-back off of the miss by Chris Urbina to give Olton their first lead of the game, but it was short-lived, as Benoit dropped in a tip-in to put the Steers back in front, 20-19. With just under three minutes left to play in the half, Andrew Martinez drained a three from the left wing, off of the assist from Chris Urbina and Soliz followed it up with a pull-up jumper from the right elbow to give the Mustangs a four-point advantage, 24-20.
Walker Williams knocked down a three from the right corner and Actkinson followed it up with a lay-up in transition to regain the lead for Farwell, 25-24, but Olton quickly answered, as Soliz knocked down a runner in transi tion to make the score, 26-25. With time winding down in the quarter, Chris Urbina delivered a block on the defensive end, before coming down on offense and hitting the step-back three in front of the Farwell bench to make the score, 29-25, in favor of the Mustangs going into the locker room at halftime.
Stancell opened the second half with a lay-up for Farwell and the Steers took a time out with 7:31 remaining to prevent a turnover. Out of the break, Stancell was fouled on an attempt by Santillan, earning a trip to the line. He split the free throws, making the score, 29-28, with 7:13 left to play in the third.
Martinez drained a three from the left elbow, off of the assist from Santillan, but Waldrop answered with a jumper from the left elbow and Adrian Nunez dropped in a lay-up on the fast-break to tie the game, 32-32, with 5:38 remaining in the third. Chris Urbina dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Nathan Urbina, but Stancell answered with a three from the left wing and followed it up with a layup off of a steal to put Farwell in front, 37-34.
With 3:43 remaining in the quarter, Martinez knocked down a three from the right elbow to tie the game, but Waldrop responded with a put-back off of his own miss to keep the Steers in front, 39-37. Stancell dropped in a lay-up off of a steal to push their lead to, 41-37, as Olton took a time out with 1:56 left to play in the quarter.
Out of the break, Huguley dropped in a lay-up and Nathan Urbina buried a three from the left wing to put Olton back in front, 42-41. With time winding down in the quarter, Huguley delivered a huge block off of the backboard to send the game into the fourth quarter with Olton in front, 42-41.
Soliz opened the fourth quarter with a steal, taking it the other way for a fast-break lay-up, as Farwell took a time out to regroup with 7:16 left to play in the game. Out of the break, Sides was fouled on an attempt by Huguley and sank both free throws to make it a onepoint Olton lead, 44-43. With 6:22 left to play, Santillan drove the lane, dishing a no-look pass to Joe Canchola, who knocked down a jumper from the right wing, stretching their lead to three point, 46-43.
Sides dropped in a lay-up for Farwell, but on the other end, Santillan was fouled on a threepoint attempt by Williams. He missed the first shot, but made the next two to extend their lead to, 48-45, as Olton took a time out to talk things over with 5:15 left o play in the game. Out of the break, Canchola dropped in a put-back off of a miss by Nathan Urbina and on their next possession, Nathan Urbina was fouled on an attempt by Waldrop. He split the free throw attempts, leaving the score, 51-45, with 4:19 remaining in the game.
Chris Urbina dropped in a putback off of a miss by Soliz, as Farwell took a time out to talk things over with 3:49 remaining in the contest. Out of the break, Adrian Nunez and Jorge Vasquez scored back-to-back buckets for the Steers to cut the lead to, 53-49, but with under one minute to play in the game, Santillan was fouled on the floor by Gaxiola, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. He converted both free throws to make it a six-point Olton lead, 55- 49.
Leo Nunez dropped in a putback to cut the lead to four points, as Olton took a time out to talk things over. Out of the break, the Mustangs got the ball in bounds and Martinez was quickly fouled by Stancell in the double-bonus, he went to the line and sank both free throws to keep the lead at six points for Olton, 57-51.
Leo Nunez was fouled on the floor by Santillan, who fouled out of the contest with 10.5 seconds remaining. Leo Nunez split the free throws, as Farwell took a time out to talk about their strategy. Out of the break, Chris Urbina was fouled on the floor by Adrian Nunez with six seconds left to play. He made one-of-two shots at the line to make the score, 58-52.
Leo Nunez dropped in a lay-up to close out the game, as Olton claimed the District title over Farwell, 58-54.
Soliz led the team in scoring with 14 points, and was joined in double-figures scoring by Martinez, who tallied 11 points. Chris Urbina and Huguley each added eight points, while Santillan tallied six points and Canchola and Nathan Urbina each finished with four points. Casares finished with three points in the contest.
The Mustangs closed out their regular season on Tuesday with a home game against Bovina. Results were not available at press time.