EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Ethan Diego cranked in four three pointers in the first half to help the Redskins build a 10-point lead, but another breakdown late led to another heartbreaking loss, this one in overtime to the Guymon Tigers, 77-70.
The Redskins fell behind 8-1 early, but the Redskins battled back to tie the game 14-14.
The Redskins continued to push forward to take a 28-18 lead. But the Tigers battled back and cut Liberal’s lead to 34-30 at half.
The Tigers continued to battle back, and the two teams kept the game within a score for most of the third quarter.
Alan Olvera knocked down a three and a bucket in the third quarter to go along with two baskets from James Fieser and a three from Prince Collins, and Eathan Hernandez and Diego each chipped in a basket to help the Redskins claw to a 50-49 lead to start the fourth quarter. But the Tigers found a scorer in Alamayu Lire who found his way to the basket and helped the Tigers build a seven-point lead.
This time it was the Redskins who rallied and started to cut into the Tiger lead, and Liberal started to chip away.
The Redskins cut the Tiger lead to three before Fieser fouled out, but the Redskins found other scorers to continue the comeback, and with less than a minute to play the Redskins took a 61-58 lead. But Lire cut his way to the basket to cut Liberal’s lead to one, and after a turnover by the Redskins in the final 20 seconds, the Tigers had a chance to take the lead.
Lire was fouled, but he only made one of two free throws to tie the game, 61-61. But Liberal again failed to get off a shot to win the game, and the Tigers had one final shot at the buzzer that missed, and the game headed to overtime. But Lire was too much in the extra period and made seven of eight free throws to go along with a pair of baskets for 11 points, and the Redskins struggled to get shots to fall and fell 77-70.
Collins and Diego each had 16 points for the Redskins, and Fieser and Olvera each had 11 in the loss.
Lire scored 38 points for the Tigers.
