JASON EPP
• Leader & Times
TURPIN, Okla.— Max Garza gave the Cardinals a major presence in the paint scoring 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting to help lift Turpin to a 54-44 win over their county rivals from Beaver.
A close match throughout the first half, Turpin took the lead for good when Jag Huffman hit his second three of the game with 6:29 left in the third quarter to break a 26-26 tie. It was the game’s fourth lead change to go with five ties. Huffman scored twice more in the quarter as did Garza. Turpin outscored Beaver 17-11 in the quarter and stretched the lead to double digits for the first time in the game.
Beaver closed the gap to five in the fourth quarter, but the Cardinals hit 6 of 7 from the free throw line and limited the Dusters opportunities with multiple steals.
Back in the first quarter, Beaver took an early 10-4 lead with threes by Humberto Ruiz and Joel Ruiz and lead 12-7 after one period. Turpin bounced back by getting ball inside to Garza, who had eight in the quarter, and drives to the basket by Saul Alvarado that tied the game at 24-24 at the half.
Turpin finished the game 19-33 from 2-point, 3-19 from 3-point, and 6-8 at the line. Beaver was 10-20 from 2-point, 7-22 from 3-point, and 3-9 at the line.
Beyond Garza’s scoring, it was Huffman with 14 points and Alvarado with 10. Beaver was led by Cooper Yeomans with 17 of 6-15 shooting and Humerto Ruiz with 11 on 3-9 shooting from three.
Turpin (6-7) will finish out the week at the Buffalo Tournament which has been moved up due to inclement weather and is being played Wednesday through Friday.
