BLANCA – The ninth-ranked Sierra Grande High School got off to a fast start when it hosted the Evangelical Christian Academy, a Class 2A team, Saturday at the Panthers’ gym.
The Eagles, however, made a comeback and took the lead of several occasions. The Panthers again took a big lead late only to see ECA make another comeback effort.
But Sierra Grande held off ECA and won by a score of 47-45.
“We needed out to try to find a win against a good 2A team,” said Sierra Grande coach Matt Lucero. “They have height, they’re disciplined and they’re coached extremely well. We found a way to win even though it wasn’t pretty. I told the guys a win is a win and we’ll learn from our mistakes and get better at what we try to do.”
Aron Ojeda scored the first points of the game for Sierra Grande, but Brock Jones made a 3-point basket for ECA. Jaydn Martinez scored two baskets and Brian Ontiveros scored one to push the lead to 8-3.
Levi DeJong scored a layup and Jones made two free throws to bring the Eagles within an 8-7 deficit. Manuel Miranda made a 3-pointer and Martinez and Carlos Lopez both scored to increase the lead to 15-7.
Bo Galliart scored the final five points of the quarter to cut the Panthers’ lead to 15-12.
Galliart opened the second quarter with a jumper and a free throw to tie the score at 15-15. Martinez split at the free throw line to put Sierra Grande back into the lead, but Drew Gregory drove for a layup to give the lead back to ECA.
Ojeda drained a trey to put the Panthers back in front, and Ontiveros drove for a layup. Miranda made another three. Rolando Najera hit a jumper to increase the lead to 26-17.
Once again, the Eagles finished the period strong as they scored the final five points to reduce their deficit to 26-22 at halftime.
Josh Maes made a 3-pointer for ECA and Jones scored in the paint to put the Eagles back on top at 27-26. Martinez helped Sierra Grande regain the lead, and Ojeda scored a layup and added a free throw for a 31-27 lead.
Galliart cut the lead to one point with a trey, but Ojeda answered with a three on the other end of the court. Martinez then made a layup and a free throw to extend the margin to 37-30.
Galliart scored four points in the final minute of the third quarter to narrow the gap to 39-34.
Ojeda scored the first points of the fourth quarter, but Jones made a pair of free tosses. Martinez drove for another layup, but Jones drained a 3-pointer to bring ECA within 43-39.
Martinez made one of two free throws, but Jones scored a layup to reduce the lead to 44-41.
Martinez made two free throws ands Miranda made one of two for a 47-41 advantage with 1:05 left in the game.
Gregory’s layup closed the lead to 47-43, and Galliart made two free throws to cut the margin to 47-45 with 22 second remaining.
The Eagles had a couple of chances to either tie the score or win in the final seconds but came up empty.
The Panthers had two players score in double figures as Martinez scored 17 points and Ojeda added 15.
The Eagles also had two players in double figures with Jones scoring 18 points and Galliart 17.
Sierra Grande (6-2) will travel to Cheraw for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.
“Cheraw went into overtime with ECA, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us on the road,” Lucero said.
Sierra Grande 47, Evangelical Christian 45
ECA – Gregory 2 0-0 4, Galliart 5 5-5 17, Lucia 0 1-2 1, DeJong 1 0-0 2, Jones 5 6-8 18, Maes 1 0-0 3, Moore 0 0-0 0, Barger 0 0-0 0. Total 14 12-15 45.
3-point goals – Galliart 2, Jones 2, Maes 1. Total 5.
Sierra Grande – Ontiveros 2 0-0 4, Miranda 2 1-4 7, J. Martinez 6 5-9 17, Ojeda 6 1-1 15, C. Lopez 1 0-0 2, D. Martinez 0 0-0 0, Kester 0 0-0 0, Najera 1 0-0 2, A. Lopez 0 0-0 0. Total 18 7-14 47.
3-point goals – Miranda 2, Ojeda 2. Total 4.
ECA 12 10 12 11 – 45
Sierra Grande 15 11 13 8 – 47
Fouls – ECA 15, Sierra Grande 14.
