(Alice, Texas)-The Rio Hondo Bobcats (21-14) did the unthinkable, they held off a loud, boisterous 30-4A Crystal City HS (20-13) fan base, and defeated the Javelinas 65-58 in the University Interscholastic League Region IV-4A Boys Basketball Championships on Friday night at Alice High School. The Bobcats will now play 29-4A Champions, Somerset High School (29-4) next Tuesday night. Both teams will meet at 8:00 p.m. at Alice High School.
The Crystal City Javelinas fans could be heard, yelling at the referees for the fouls counted against their beloved Javelinas basketball team, but down the stretch, the Javelinas had their chances at the free-throw line and missed while the Bobcats capitalized on their misses. Rio Hondo led 44-42 at the end of the third period with Zecheriah Rios making sure his Bobcats would not fall. He put the Bobcats up on a drive under the basket to make it 48-44 and on a missed shot by the Javelinas, Rio Hondo’s Jaiden Basaldua was there for the rebound and raced down court to score, the Bobcats led 50-44 and went on a run, to lead 54-47 with 4:31 left two play.
The boisterious Javelinas fan based sat in shock as they watched the Bobcats break away. Still, the never-say-die Javelinas fought back to tie the game at 58-58 on three-point shot. Rios made sure, again, that his team stayed in control as they went on to win 65-58. The Bobcats outscored the Javelinas 21-16 in the final period.
