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| 1/22/2010 12:11:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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Photo by KIDSPORTSPICTURES.COM for Leader
Round Rock’s Naveed Hosseinmardi takes a jump shot inside the paint Tuesday against McNeil. The Dragons were down big early, but drove back to within four late in the game before the Mavs pulled away for the victory. |
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Mavs top Rock on road Tues.
Fourth-quarter comeback falls short for RRHS
By MARK SWANSON
Special to the Leader
For one half, the McNeil Maverick boys basketball team played as well as it could. Its defense was suffocating and easy shots were plentiful in a swing game at Round Rock. Then, it was almost undone in one quarter - but just almost.
McNeil road a sterling first half and held on through a dicey fourth quarter in a key 52-47 win at Round Rock Tuesday. The win moved the Mavericks to 4-2 in District 16-5A play and in good position entering the midway point of district play.
"We played really well defensively and that gave us some good shots," McNeil coach Darrell Hagemann said. "We clinched up some late there, though. We got scared to shoot the ball and went to the delay game a little too soon.
"This is a huge win on the road, though. Any road win in this district is a big one."
The Mavericks built a 34-17 halftime lead by smothering the Dragons on the defensive end. Quality shots were few and made quality shots were even fewer. Round Rock, 2-4 in district play, got a little frustrated and McNeil made it pay. Max Pepper hit a three-pointer from the corner with 3:24 left in the second quarter to extend the lead to 22-13 and start an 11-0 run. Brett Worrell hit another three on the next trip down the court and the run was on.
The Mavericks carried a seemingly comfortable 42-31 lead into the fourth quarter, but started playing keep away and that gave the Dragons a chance to get back in the game. McNeil scored only two points through the first six minutes of the fourth quarter and Round Rock slowly chipped away at the lead. Austin Maniaci's runner with 42 seconds left made the score 47-43 and forced McNeil to seal the game at the foul line.
That it did. The Mavericks made 5 of 6 free throws in the last 30 seconds to seal the game. Kyle Martin made two with 3.9 seconds remaining to put the game away.
Blair Williams led McNeil with 14 points. Kenneth Black also had 14 for Round Rock.
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