HORNETS SURGE PAST BULLDOGS, 55-45

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  • MICHAEL LIMON - Sudan Hornets
    MICHAEL LIMON - Sudan Hornets
  • GABRIEL GARCIA - Amherst Bulldogs
    GABRIEL GARCIA - Amherst Bulldogs
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The Sudan Hornets’ varsity basketball pulled away from the Amherst Bulldogs in their Whitharral Invitational Tournament-opener on Thursday to take the contest, 55-45.

Sudan’s Anthony Rodriguez opened the game with a three from the left wing for the Hornets, but the Bulldogs responded, as Gabriel Garcia buried a three of his own from the left elbow off of the assist from Hector Perez to tie the game, 3-3. Abram Rodriguez dropped in a bucket for Sudan to put them back in front, 5-3, and with 5:20 remaining in the opening quarter, Sal Juarez cut through traffic in the lane and dropped in a lay-up to extend their lead to, 7-3.

Brayan Torres picked up a steal and got it ahead to Jaime Garcia, who dropped in a lay-up to make it a one-possession game, 7-5. With 4:10 left to play in the first quarter, Jaime Garcia buried a three from the right wing, off of the assist from Perez to put Amherst in front, 8-7. Chris Gonzales followed it up with a lay-up off of the assist from Torres and on their next possession, Torres got the ball to Gonzales in transition for a lay-up, extending their lead to, 12-7, with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Anthony Rodriguez dropped in a bucket for Sudan and Jordie Bellar followed it up with a putback off of a miss by Michael Limon to make it a one-point Amherst lead, 12-11. However, with under one minute to play, Torres dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Gabriel Garcia, pushing the Amherst lead to, 14- 11, as the first quarter came to a close.

Torres opened the second quarter with a lay-up off of a Sudan turnover, but Michael Limon answered with a deep three from the left elbow to make it a one-possession game, 16-14. Abram Rodriguez picked up a steal and got it ahead to Juarez, who was fouled on an attempt by Juan Salas. He made one-of-two shots at the line to make it a one-point Amherst lead, 16-15.

Sudan took a time out with 6:47 remaining in the half, and out of the break, Michael Limon scored a put-back off of a miss by Juarez to put the Hornets back in front, 17-16. the back-and-forth game continued, as Jaime Garcia hit Gabriel Garcia with an outlet pass, as he finished off the fast-break with a lay-up to put the Bulldogs back on top, 18-17.

With just over four minutes to play in the first half, Bellar dropped in a lay-up off of the assist from Juarez, but Amherst had the quick answer, as Torres responded with a lay-up to put the Bulldogs in front, 20-19. With 3:31 remaining in the half, Tony Vargas was fouled on an attempt by Jose Flores. He converted both free throws to give Sudan a one-point advantage, but on the other end, Gabriel Garcia buried a three from the left elbow, off of the assist from Torres, making he score, 23-21.

With 1:58 remaining in the half, Jaime was fouled on the floor by Antonio Limon, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. He sank both shots to make it a fourpoint Bulldog lead, but Bellar scored a put-back off of his own miss on the other end to make the score, 25-23, with Amherst leading going into the locker room at halftime.

Abram Rodriguez opened the second half with a lay-up off of the assist from Josue Cervera to tie the game, 25-25 and Juarez delivered a lay-up through contact from Gonzales to put the Hornets on top, 27-25 with nearly two minutes gone in the third quarter.

With under six minutes remaining in the quarter, Torres picked up a steal and got it ahead to Jaime Garcia for the fast-break lay-up to tie the game, 27-27. Abram Rodriguez answered with a putback off of a miss from Michael Limon, but Amherst fired right back, as Torres scored a put-back off of a miss by Gonzales to keep the game tied, 29-29.

Michael Limon buried a three from the left elbow off of the assist from Anthony Rodriguez, but on the next play, Jaime Garcia hit Gabriel Garcia in transition for a lay-up to cut the Sudan lead to one point, 32-31. With 1:46 remaining in the third, Bellar knocked down a jumper from the right elbow off of the assist form Vargas to push the Sudan lead to, 34-31.

Gonzales drained a pair of free throws, but Bellar answered with a short jumper from the left side off of the assist from Vargas and Michael Limon followed it up with a three from the right elbow off of the assist from Trent Wilson to close out the third quarter with the Hornets in front, 39-33.

Gonzales opened the fourth quarter with a runner in the lane for Amherst and Gabriel Garcia followed it up with a no-look pass in the lane to Torres, who finished the play with a lay-up, cutting the lead to, 39-37, with just over one minute gone in the final quarter. Kaled Robinson dropped in a lay up to get the Hornets on the board in the fourth quarter, but Amherst quickly answered, as Torres dropped in a bucket to make it a one-possession Sudan lead, 41-39.

Amherst took a full time out with 5:29 remaining and out of the break, Juarez picked up a steal and took it the other way for a lay-up to push their lead back out to, 43- 39. Amherst took another time out with 4:05 remaining and out of the break, Antony Rodriguez dropped in a lay-up, drawing an and-one foul on Jaime Garcia. The free throw was no good, leaving the score, 45-39.

With 2:32 remaining, Jaime Garcia was fouled on the floor by Anthony Rodriguez, earning a one-in-one opportunity at the line. He sank both free throws to make it a four-point game, but on the other end, Michael Limon was fouled on an attempt by Perez. He split the free throws, making the score, 46-41.

With under two minutes to play in the game, Michael Limon buried a three from the left corner off of the assist from Juarez, as Sudan took a time out with 1:41 remaining, leading the Bulldogs, 49-41. Sudan closed out the game on a, 6-4, scoring run to take the contest, 55-45.

Michael Limon led the Hornets in scoring with a game-high 19 points. Bellar and Juarez each tallied eight points, while Anthony Rodriguez chipped in seven points and Abram Rodriguez contributed six points. Tony Vargas added four points and Robinson finished with three points in the contest.

Amherst was led by Jaime Garcia, who netted 13 points and was joined in double-figures scoring by Gabriel Garcia and Gonzales, who each tallied 11 points and Brayan Torres, who finished with 10 points.

The Hornets will be at home on Monday when they host Floydada, while the Bulldogs will be at Loop on Tuesday.

Sudan will tip-off at 7:30 on Monday, while the Bulldogs will tip-off at 7:30 on Tuesday.