A Kelton Coleman layup with three seconds left in overtime, capped an exciting 50-49 win by the Rangers over Timber Creek in the first round of the playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Chisholm Trail got off to a slow start, falling behind 9-0 in the first quarter, but the Rangers stuck with it, didn't give up and began to battle back. Onyekachi Ijeoma scored five of the first seven points, and Archange Mutombo made a three pointer just ahead of the first quarter buzzer, and Chisholm Trail capped off a 10-3 run to end the quarter.
Timber Creek maintained their lead in the second quarter, but the Rangers never backed down and continued to cut into the lead. Nyout Arop had six straight points in the quarter to pull the Rangers within two points. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period, and Chisholm Trail was down by one at the half.
In the second half, Chisholm Trail tied the game at 33-33 on a three from Kaden Richardson. Timber Creek hit a couple shots late, and led 38-34, setting the stage for the exciting fourth quarter.
With Timber Creek leading 40-34 early in the fourth, the Ranger defense ignited the offense, starting with a block from Javon Smith and Chisholm Trail went on a 10-3 run, capped by a Mutombo steal and layup in transition to lead 44-43 with under three minutes to play. The score remained the same, until a Ranger foul sent Timber Creek to the free throw line; splitting the free throws to tie the game at 44-44. The Rangers nearly won it in regulation, but the three from Smith went in and out.
Overtime was back and forth, both teams trading jump shots, and the game was tied again at 48-48. A foul by the Rangers with under a minute to play gave Timber Creek the lead at 49-48, before a Ranger timeout set up the game winning shot from Coleman, and the Rangers first trip to area since 2016-17.
Coleman was the leading scorer with 15 points, while Ijeoma chipped in 14, Richardson and Mutombo each had seven points, and Arop added six points.
The Rangers will head out west for the Area Round, taking on Frenship on Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. at Abilene Wylie High School.
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