BASKETBALL: Apaches blow open game, snap Mustang win streak

The Gonzales Apaches blew open a four-point game in the second half, outscoring the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs, 36-9, en route to a 62-31 win that snapped the home team’s 10-game winning streak in a battle of Gonzales County teams on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

Gonzales (8-3) jumped out to an early 5-2 lead, but a technical foul against the Apaches gave Nixon-Smiley (10-1) two free throws and a score on the ensuing play put the Mustangs up 6-5. A 4-2 run by Gonzales made the score 9-8 at the end of the first period.

In the second period, Nixon-Smiley hit a three-pointer to go up 11-9, but it would be their last lead of the game and was short-lived. Gonzales went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-11 lead. Nixon-Smiley would get back to within three at 19-16 after a 5-0 run of their own, but the Apaches outscored the Mustangs, 7-6, to go to the half up by four at 26-22.

A fast-paced transition game and ball-hawking defense by Gonzales gave Nixon-Smiley fits in the second half. The Apaches hit a three-pointer and a bucket to go up by nine at 31-22. The Mustangs would hit a trey of their own to cut the lead to six at 31-25. Gonzales then went on a 13-1 run the rest of the quarter to take a 44-26 lead into the fourth period.

The Apaches then scored the next 14 points of the fourth quarter to push their lead to 58-26. The Mustangs would score their only five points in the period to trim the lead to 58-31, but two late Gonzales baskets closed out the scoring.

Angel Martinez led the Apaches with 21 points, including nine in the pivotal third period, while Xavier Aguayo had 16 points, including eight in the final period. Jeremiah Hastings scored nine points (all in the first half) and Brady Barfield scored seven (all in the second half). Alex Escabado and T.J. Riojas each scored four and Jacob Bakken had one.

For Nixon-Smiley, Brayden Martinez was the leading scorer with 11 points, while Luke Moses hbad seven and Ruben Bomer had six. Dustin Mejia scored four and Jeremiah Munoz scored three.

Gonzales was scheduled to travel to San Antonio to face St. Anthony’s on Friday, Dec. 17. The Mustangs will play away at Pettus that night.