Southwest used a strong team effort to win its third consecutive game, second straight in overtime, downing visiting Columbus, 67-64. The Eagles (5-3, 3-3), in handing the Explorers (6-2, 4-1) their first district loss, were one point short of having 5 players in double figures. Columbus took the early lead, 14-9, after one quarter. Southwest took its first lead with 4:02 left in the second quarter, 17-16, on a 3-pointer by Gio Gonzalez. With 4.8 seconds before halftime, a Ben Vargas steal, one of 4 he had, led to a Ray Lleonart layup and subsequent free throw that gave the Eagles a 25-24 halftime lead. The Explorers used three 3-pointers to regain the lead, 39-37, entering the final period of regulation time. The fourth quarter was tight, with neither team ever leading by more than 3 points. Daniel Rams, scoreless through the first three periods, hit two 3-pointers, then sank a free throw with 5.4 seconds remaining to tie the game at 53 and send the game into overtime. Michael Juachon, who had a tremendous game shutting down (and fouling out) the Columbus center, started the scoring in the extra period with a 3-point play. Rams hit two free throws to make the lead 5. Kristian Godoy, who had a double-double with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, hit two baskets to make the lead 64-58 with 47 seconds left. The Explorers kept having to foul in an attempt to get the ball back, but the Eagles made 8 of 11 free throws in OT to put the game away.
The scoring:
Gonzalez 16
Juachon 16
Vargas 10
Godoy 10
Rams 9
Lleonart 6