The Whiteface Antelopes finished the UIL District 5-2A high school boys’ basketball regular season with a 53-51 road win over the Morton Indians before a packed house last Friday.
The Antelopes and Indians have split games this season with the Indians winning the first round in Whiteface 43-42.
Friday’s game was no different. The lead changed hands several time in the first half, but the Antelopes finished leading 16-15.
The second quarter saw Whiteface in the lead three times, Morton in the lead three times and the score tied three times.
Halftime found both teams knotted at 27.
The third quarter saw more of the same until Ivaniel Gandara got a putback with 3:47 left in the period.
Gandara hit two free throws about a minute later putting Whiteface up by four points.
Free throws from Brayden Villereal got the Indians within two at 1:30, but Jeremiah Rendon hit two free throws at the one minute mark to put the Antelopes up 38-34.
That’s where the third quarter ended. Whiteface never trailed in the fourth quarter, but the Indians were able to tie the score twice.
Morton’s Tre Holland cut the deficit to two about a minute into the quarter, but a layup from Isaak Soliz off a steal from Ethan Kauffman made the score 40-36 for Whiteface with six minutes left in the game.
Morton turned over on the next possession and this time it was Rendon that laid up for a 4236 lead, the largest of the night.
Morton was able to tie the score at 44 on a basket from A.J. Mendoza followed by a trey from Holland with three minutes left in the game.
Whiteface went back up by three on a trey from Rendon, but E.J. Rivas tied the score with a three point shot of his own with 1:56 left in the game.
The Antelopes went up 4947 on a basket from Rendon with 20 seconds, then Rendon was fouled with 16 seconds and put two free throws in for a 51-47 lead.
Morton’s Villareal was fouled at the 12 second mark, hitting two of three freethrows to cut the lead to 51-49.
Morton was forced to foul to regain possession, but Rendon hit is free throws from a 53-49 lead.
The last basket of the game came from Morton’s Lane Lyon with just a few seconds left, but it wasn’t enough.
Jeremiah Rendon led the Antelopes and all scorers with 30 points. Kauffman had eight. Ivaniel Gandara had seven. Soliz had six and Jaxon Hodge had two.
Holland led the Indians with 15 points. Mendoza had nine. Rivas had eight. Lane Lyon and Villareal each had seven. Jaeden Alvarado had five.
Both teams have qualified for the postseason. Game times and locations will be announced as soon as they are known.