Mules vs. Shallowater & Roosevelt (1-9&12-2018)

Mules vs. Shallowater & Roosevelt (1-9&12-2018)

The Shallowater Mustangs played above the heads of the Mules Tuesday evening and defeated the Mules 67-38. The Mules performed much better at Lubbock Roosevelt against the Eagles.

The Mules stayed close to the Eagles through three periods, and then came alive to score almost as many points in the final period as they had during the game. The Mules pulled out a 48-47 win with a pair of one-handed free throws by Jacob Kettner.

Luke Leal sank a 3-pointer from the corner to start the Shallowater game. Romeo Reyes scored from the elbow, and Israel Vasquez sank a short baseline jumper. Isaiah Hurtado popped the net from near the corner for three points. The Mules trailed Shallowater 21-10 after one quarter.

Jacob Barron hit a trey from the top of the key three minutes into the second period to crank the Mule offense. Izaiah Perez chipped in a pair of free throws. Jacob Kettner put back an offensive rebound and later hit a short jumper. Shallowater led the Mules 38-19 at the intermission.

Ethan Villa chipped in a free throw to start the second half. Leal also made a charity toss. Wyatt Parker made one free throw and later scored from the blocks. Vasquez dropped in two from the charity line and then sank a trey from the corner. The Mules trailed 50-29 with one period left to play.

Vasquez dropped in two free throws one minute into the last quarter. Leal, Villa, and Luke Del Toro chipped in a free throw each. Isaac Mendoza scored in the paint as did Perez.

Vasquez led the Mules with nine points. Leal finished with five points. Perez and Kettner dropped in four points each. Parker, Hurtado, and Barron added three points each. Villa, Reyes, and Mendoza made two points apiece. Del Toro chipped in one point.

The Mules traveled to Roosevelt and got off to a slow start. Vasquez made two baskets before he picked up his third foul in the first quarter. Del Toro added two free throws to complete the Mules’ first-period scoring. Roosevelt led the Mules 12-6 after one quarter.

The Mules stayed within six in the second period. Raul Sierra sank a trey from the wing a minute and a half into the frame. He later added a layup. Reyes and Brady Martinez dropped in two free throws each. Leal found the range from outside the arc. Both teams scored 12 points each, and the Mules trailed Roosevelt 24-18 at the half.

Del Toro made a short jumper to start the third period. Vasquez scored in the paint, and Reyes made back-to-back hoops to end the third period. The Mules had cut the Roosevelt lead to 30-26.

Leal was on target from outside the arc to open the final period. He nailed a second trey before scoring a hoop. Reyes made a layup and then dropped in a free throw. Vasquez hit a 3-pointer from the wing and later completed a three-point play. Parker chipped in a free throw.

Kettner made two free throws shortly after the quarter began, but then missed the second pair of charity tosses. Kettner had one more opportunity at the charity line with one second left in the game. Kettner had ice water running through his veins as he approached the line and made his first free throw to tie the game.

The referee delivered Kettner the ball, and he placed it in his right hand. He then slightly bent his knees and then with orchestrated grace pushed the ball toward the hoop. There was a faint swoosh as the ball slipped through the net to put the Mules on top.

Vasquez led the Mules with 12 points, and Leal finished with 11 points. Reyes scored nine points, and Sierra had five points. Del Toro and Kettner added four points each. Martinez chipped in two points.

The Mules traveled to Littlefield Tuesday to play the Wildcats. The Mules will finish the week at home Friday night when they host the Idalou Wildcats.