Lyford takes down Rio Hondo in battle of 32-3A’s top squads

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LYFORD — The last two meetings between 32-3A’s top dogs Lyford and Rio Hondo have required overtime to determine a winner.

The district title contenders collided again Friday night, and while no extra time was needed, the Bobcats and Bulldogs went down to the wire again as Lyford scored a pair of late buckets to take down Rio Hondo 53-49 at Lyford High School.

Lyford now sits alone in first place in 32-3A at 17-7 overall and 10-1 in district, while Rio Hondo slides into second in district at 15-11 overall and 9-2. The Bobcats defeated the Bulldogs 59-57 in overtime in their first meeting this season on Dec. 10.

“We’ve been so close in the past against these guys. Last year we went into overtime, this year we went into overtime, so to be able to come out of this one with a win, it’s a great feeling,” Lyford head coach Andrew Carmona said. “I’m happy for my guys and proud of them. They weathered the storm — it was back-and-forth just like the first game and I’m thankful this time we came out victorious.”

Lyford trailed Rio Hondo 49-48 with 55 seconds remaining and inbounded the ball below their own basket. The ball bounced around the perimeter and into Gael Silva’s hands near the free throw line. The Bulldogs post then found guard Josiah Palmer in position for a 3-pointer from the left corner and the senior was money to give Lyford a 51-49 lead with 45 seconds left in the game.

“It just fell in my lap. I had to make it and thankfully it went in,” Palmer said of his go-ahead 3.

After a pair of Rio Hondo shots missed on the other end, Silva pulled in a defensive rebound, looked down court and found a wide open Adrian Chavez for a layup to close the show 53-49.

Silva finished with an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double while also adding three assists.

“It was all a team effort. We never gave up,” Silva said. “We were down one point but we never gave up and fought til the end.”

Aaron Morales finished with 10 points for Lyford, Palmer had nine and Smiley Moreno added eight.

Lyford led the majority of the game but a 3-point flurry from Rio Hondo put the Bobcats in front during a back-and-forth fourth quarter. Rio Hondo senior Ruben Atkinson finished with 19 points off five made 3-pointers. Bobcats guard Caleb Sandoval hit a pair of 3’s and consistently attacked the rim to finish with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Guard Charles Rodriguez added nine points and six boards for Rio Hondo while post Matthew Lopez blocked four shots.

While Lyford is now alone in first place, the road doesn’t get any easier in 32-3A play. The Bulldogs are slated to face Santa Rosa at 7 p.m. Friday in Santa Rosa before hosting Raymondville at 8 p.m. Friday in Lyford. Lyford defeated Santa Rosa, 67-64, in OT on Dec. 17 and Raymondville, 46-41, on Dec. 20.

“We have to continue to fight, continue to play tough and not let up,” Carmona said. “We set our goal at the beginning of the season and we’re on track and hopefully we can continue doing what we’ve been doing.”

Next for Rio Hondo is Brownsville IDEA Riverview at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Rio Hondo High School.

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