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The Cards have not been able to avoid close games in recent weeks as last week they completed their third game in a row with a one possession margin of victory, and their second game in a row that reached an overtime period. Columbus has found a way to pick up wins in each of those games including against Yoakum at home Tuesday night. The close games continued to end the week as the Cards faced last year’s district winners in a game that came down to the wire and tightened the district title race.
Vs Yoakum, W, 57-56 (OT)
The Cards had even more adversity to deal with against Yoakum as, unlike in their other tight games, they had to come back from an early deficit to give themselves a chance at the end. They nearly had a double-digit deficit by halftime as they went into the locker room staring at a 23-14 margin on the scoreboard. Columbus had a much stronger quarter in the third, putting up 15 points and outscoring their opponents in a period for the first time in the game. However, they only cut one point into the deficit, leaving the final frame as their last opportunity to battle back into the game. The Cards responded with their best period, scoring 20 points and erasing the Yoakum lead to send the game into overtime. Just like their prior game against the Rice Raiders, this extra period was a back-and-forth affair as the teams traded buckets. Columbus was able to hold on until the end to complete the comeback victory.
Cristian Reyna continued his impressive run in recent weeks with an 18-point performance that included four three-point makes. Trace Braden and Trevor Berger added 13 points each as the next highest scorers on the team. Colton Pitchford added seven points to the team’s total.
Vs Industrial, L, 51-49
The Cards have given themselves every opportunity to dethrone Industrial as this year’s district champions. Entering Friday night’s game, Columbus was in first place in the standings with no district losses. Industrial had suffered two district losses, first by Columbus, and another by second-place Edna immediately after. With another back-to-back matchup looming against the teams ahead of them in the standings, the Cobras went on to have one of their strongest performances against the Cards and picked up a statement win.
Columbus never let Industrial take full control of the game as they consistently found buckets to match their opponents’ output. The first half ended with the teams tied at 28-all as the district heavyweights traded blows and baskets. The third quarter is where the Cards’ momentum ran out somewhat as they managed only six points and allowed the Cobras to build a six-point lead. The Cards battled the entire fourth quarter to try to cut into the lead and steal the win at home. They nearly completed their mission after a huge three-pointer by Colton Pitchford to tie the game with less than a minute left. However, they couldn’t find the stop on the other end or the tying basket at the buzzer and as a result fell in their first district defeat of the season.
Pitchford led the team with 14 points punctuated by the huge game-tying three near the end. Trace Braden and Cristian Reyna followed with 12 and eight points respectively as the Cards’ leading scorers.
