Tascosa mounts second half comeback to win bi-district game against Coronado
PLAINVIEW — The Class 5A bidistrict boys basketball game between Tascosa and Coronado began as a tight contest before the Mustangs started to pull away — leading by as many as 11 points. And with the Rebels two star players in foul trouble early, Coronado looked to be heading to victory.
The Tascosa role players had something else in mind.
Will Dickerson and TJ Tillman made big play after big play, while Jacorey Fields made crucial free throws down the stretch, as Tascosa overcame an early deficit and came away with a 62-59 win inside Wayland Baptist University’s Hutcherson Center.
The Rebels (17-15 advance to the area round to take on El Paso Parkland at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Mustangs (19-12) saw their season come to an end.
Early on, it didn't look like things would be going the Rebels way.
The two teams traded baskets early with the Rebels taking an 8-6 lead before Coronado closed the opening period on a 10-2 run to go up 16-8. Though Tascosa battled to within six, they trailed by as many as 11 points before heading into the locker rooms staring at a 34-25 uphill battle.
Head coach Steve Jackson kept it simple at the midway point.
"We just told the guys to relax a little bit," he said. "We're here for a reason so we just need to come down here and execute. Just settle down. I think we were a little nervous and the nerves were getting to us. (Jailyn) Sledge getting into foul trouble and Devayne (Johnson) getting into foul trouble. We just had to settle back into the game and once we started playing the way we wanted to play it worked out for us."
Sledge and Johnson normally lead the way for the Rebs, but as Jackson stated, the pair struggled with fouls early. Johnson only ended up playing 14 minutes while Sledge fouled out after 18. Sledge still managed 14 points, but the Rebels had to lean on others to dig them out of the hole.
The rest of the Rebels were up to the task.
Tascosa chipped away at the Mustangs' lead with Camden Goodman tying it with a layup and Dickerson putting the Rebels ahead 42-40 on a putback. Tascosa managed to go up 44-43 entering the final quarter of play.
Fields' layup midway through the fourth was followed by a floater from Dickerson to give the Rebels an eight-point edge. The Mustangs battled back, but in the closing two minutes, Fields came up with five big free throws and a huge steal to give the Rebels a six-point advantage.
A buzzer-beating three-pointer for the Mustangs shrank the final margin.
"I'm proud of our kids," Coronado coach Ernest Mims said. "I really am. I've been here four years and this is the first time we've made the playoffs. I'm proud of our seniors, leaders, coaching staff. We did a really good job of preparing to win and played a really good half. Unfortunately, halves don't win the game."
5A bi-district boys basketball playoffs
Tascosa 62, Coronado 59
Coronado 16 18 9 16 — 59
Tascosa 10 15 19 18 — 62
Coronado (19-12): Grant Gilmore 4, Cam Manahan 21, Tyler Williams 14, Derrick Kembe 4, Ty Green 5, Taylor Stamps 7, Surreal Garrett 4
Tascosa (17-15): Will Dickerson 10, Jaemon Palacios 5, Devayne Johnson 4, Jailyn Sledge 14, Jacorey Fields 17, TJ Tillman 4, Hawkins Farris 6, Camden Goodman 2
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Tascosa mounts second half comeback to win bi-district game against Coronado
