WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – Back on Jan. 12, the Williams varsity boys basketball team stole a win from the Panthers on a last second shot, but last Tuesday night, Maxwell turned the tables, coming from behind to hand the Yellowjackets a 52-54 overtime loss in the final Mid-Valley League meeting between the two squads.
This time around, however, the ‘Jackets were without sophomore standout Diego Ambriz, who had averaged 11.6 points per game on the season and 25 in his last three outings before suffering what appears to be a season-ending injury.
Additionally, Williams has just recently gotten Daniel Brunner back on the court, although the senior is limited by an injury he suffered earlier this month.
As a result, the scoring load has fallen to fellow senior Kyden Bowen, who delivered a game-high 30 points against the Panthers, although the lack of a two-pronged attack made it much easier on the visitor’s defense.
Still, for more than three quarters of the game, Williams was able to maintain an advantage, leading 49-44 with three minutes remaining in regulation, not an easy feat given the frantic play in the final period.
But credit goes to the Panthers, who hung around and, following a three by Tanner Vierra, a steal, and layup by Cristian Lara tied the score at 49 all with five seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Although Williams had the ball at half court with a chance to win it, they could not convert, thus sending the teams to overtime.
In extra time, Maxwell jumped on top immediately, when Noel Velazquez took the tipoff and laid in the first basket.
Then on the Yellowjackets ensuing trip down the floor, Mack Kuska blocked a shot that would have potentially tied the score again.
On the Panthers’ end of the court, Vierra knocked down a shot to extend Maxwell’s lead to 53-49.
From there, both teams engaged in sloppy play, hurrying shots, and turning the ball over, until with 30 seconds left, the ’Jackets’ Emmanuel Juarez drained a three that cut the lead to a single point.
Unfortunately, for Williams, it was their only basket in overtime, and after Walter Avery tacked on a free throw for Maxwell, the Yellowjackets turned the ball over on their final attempt to win it outright or at the very least force the game to continue.
In addition to Bowen, JV call-up Miguel Murillo tossed in 16 points for Williams.
As for the Panthers, Kuska was nearly unstoppable in the paint, finishing with 19 points. Lara had a team high 20, including five from three-point range, while Vierra chipped in with 10.
It was just one of three close losses that Williams suffered last week in what Coach Jeff Lemus called “a tough one” as his team fell to Los Molinos 43-47 on Jan. 29 and Hamilton City 53-54 on Feb. 2.
On the other hand, Maxwell made it two in a row with a 69-45 win over CORE Butte, although no other information was provided.
This week both teams rounded out the regular season with Williams (7-16, 3-5) playing on the road against CORE Butte on Tuesday before hosting Biggs on Friday, while the Panthers (10-12, 4-3) traveled to Biggs and Los Molinos on Feb. 6 and Feb. 9 respectively.