VARGAS, GONZALEZ LEAD EAGLES IN OT
Ben
Vargas scored 4 points in the last minute of overtime to lead Southwest to a come-from-behind
upset over Naples Baron Collier, 65-62, at Lely High School in Naples. The first
quarter was evenly played with numerous lead changes and neither team ever leading
by more than 3. The Cougars (7-2) took an 18-17 lead into the second quarter when
the went on an 11-3 run to open up a nine-point lead with 3:44 to go in the first
half. Baron Collier led 35-27 at the half and still led by 6 points midway through
the third quarter when an official's call caused the Cougars to temporarily unravel.
David Bianchi picked up his fourth foul, cursed, and was hit with a technical
foul that put him out of the game. The Eagles (4-3) scored 4 unanswered points
to cut the lead to 2, but Baron Collier had its lead up to 6 again midway through
the fourth quarter. At that point Vargas hit a 3-pointer and, 36 seconds later,
Gio Gonzalez hit another to tie the game at 52 with 2:53 left in regulation. An
exchange of 3-pointers made it 55-55 with 1:36 left. The Cougars were called for
traveling with 0:48 on the clock and Southwest had a chance for its first lead
since the first quarter. With 4 seconds left, the Eagles dribbled the ball on
the end line under their offensive basket and Baron Collier missed a shot at the
buzzer to send the game into overtime. Here's how the 4-minute extra period went:
3:39
Jesus Gonzalez scores to put the Cougars up 57-55
2:56
Southwest commits a turnover
2:50 Diego Sanchez
sinks a basket to make it 59-55
2:35 Gio Gonzalez
hits a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 59-58
2:19
Baron Collier commits a turnover
1:42 Southwest
is called for an foul on an inbounds play. Jason Humphrey, the Cougars' 6'5"
center makes the first, misses the second, and Ray Lleonart gets the rebound and
is fouled. Lleonart led the Eagles with 7 rebounds.
1:40
Lleonart makes the first to cut the lead to 60-59, misses the second, but Southwest
gets the rebound.
1:36 The Eagles score, seemingly
taking the lead, but coach Tom Moore had called timeout before the shot went off,
nullifying the basket.
0:55 Vargas hits a field
goal, putting Southwest up, 61-60.
0:24 Vargas
is fouled and makes both free throws putting the Eagles up by 3.
0:12
Baron Collier misses a 3-pointer and fouls Gonzalez on the rebound.
0:11
Gonzalez hits both free throws to make it 65-60, giving him 21 points.
0:03
Humphrey scores a 2-pointer equaling Gonzalez' point total.
After the game,
coach Moore said "Baron Collier is a helluva team. Number 32 (Humphrey) is
a great player. In the third quarter, when we made a run, we made mistakes. In
the fourth quarter, when we made a run, we didn't make mistakes." Cougars
coach Carlos Clark told the Naples News, "We got exposed. Southwest played
very aggressive and we didnt answer the bell. They were more physical than
us and wore us down at the end."
The scoring:
Gonzalez 21
Vargas
13
Blanco 10
Stewart 6
Lleonart 6
Juachon 5
Godoy 4