XYZ Meeting

his 3-point excellence and added another to give Gunter a 14-5 lead with 7:38 left in the second. Howe looked dead in the water, but Luke Lopez hit a 3-pointer to keep the Dogs within striking distance. Lopez then fed Cooper Jones on an air-bubble pass underneath which he converted to cut the Tiger lead to 16-10. Howe entered the locker room trailing 18-12 at the half.

Just as Howe was making a move on offense, Jackson Buckholder drained a 3-pointer to push the lead back to five at 21-16 at the 4:12 mark in the third. A minute later, Campbell found Wilson at the free throw line for a jumper to cut the margin back to three. But Pines again answered back with a 3-bomb to make it 26-18. The score became 2820 Gunter heading into the fourth period. midway through the first. After another Haley 3-pointer, Howe took a 13-6 lead into the second frame and a 21-18 lead into intermission.

A free throw by Blue Ridge’s Logan Shade tied the game at 25-25, but moments later Wilson converted a 3-point play with a layup and a successful foul shot to give Howe a 28-25 lead with 2:30 remaining in the third. After a Defrange steal and long pass to Luke Lopez, Wilson again converted a lefthanded layup to give Howe a 5-point lead.

With Howe leading 30-27 with a minute left, the Tigers went into stall mode and burned the final minute playing for a final unsuccessful 3pointer by Shade.

This is where the Howe defense got busy. The Bulldogs did not allow a single point in the fourth period and came back eight of their own. Austin Haley made a left-handed layup to cut it to 28-22. Luke Lopez hit a monster 3 -pointer to make it 28-25. Wilson hit a free throw to make it 28-26, and Defrange tied it up with a jumper just outside the paint with 3:20 remaining in the game.

The score held until the end of regulation.

Haley led Howe with nine points followed by Wilson and Campbell’s seven. Other scorers were Lopez (6), Defrange (2), and Jones (2). Wilson led Howe with nine rebounds. With nearly two minutes gone in the fourth, Blue Ridge’s Jonathan Garza gave the Tigers their first lead of the night at 3130. But an offensive rebound and a put-back by Luke Lopez gave Howe back the lead with 5:33 left in the game. Moments later, Campbell stole the ball from Garza which led to a Lopez jumper to tie the game at 34-34.

The Blue Ridge lead reached three points on a Shade 14foot jumper with 3:18 left in regulation. But that would be the final points of the game for the Tigers as Howe went into full-blown defensive suffocation mode helped out by Blue Ridge’s desire to burn most of the clock.

Luke Lopez tied the game after a timeout with a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 37-37. It looked as if Blue Ridge was going to take the lead with 0:25 left in the game when Garza fed Shade under the bucket, but Defrange blocked the shot. Campbell raced the other direction but was fouled with 0:03.4 seconds remaining. Howe was unable to score off the inbounds and the game went to overtime.

Friday’s game with Blue Ridge was rescheduled for Saturday and it was filled with highs and lows scoring swings. Again, it was a defensive battle as every Howe game tends to be. Opponents have been forcing the Dogs to get inside scoring from their posts as Howe’s scoring game has been controlled by guards Campbell, Haley, and Luke Lopez all season long. Lately, the bell has been answered by Wilson and now Zak Defrange who on Saturday had six crucial blocked shots and seven rebounds. Wilson added nine points of his own against Blue Ridge.

The game began with a Haley pass to Luke Lopez in the corner for a 3pointer and Howe. A Campbell jumper, a Haley 3-pointer, and a Wilson jumper gave Howe an early 10-4 lead Blue Ridge’s plan to drain all the clock in overtime backfired with Campbell went 4-for-4 from the line to give Howe the win.

Campbell led Howe with 13 points, followed by Wilson with nine. Other scorers were Luke Lopez (8), Haley (6), Ethan Lopez (3), and Defrange (2). Defrange’s seven rebound led the Bulldogs with Wilson behind him at five.

The Bulldogs will travel to Bells Tuesday to take on the Panthers who sit at 9 -2 in district play. They’ll then host Leonard Friday night who are 10-1 on the season. Howe was blown out by Bells 50-38 at home the first round through the district. They took Leonard to the wire and lost 46-43 just before going on the 5-game winning streak.

Left: Austin Haley (1) and Jacob Campbell (11). Right: Zac Defrange (10). Photos by Michelle Carney.

XYZ to hold monthly meeting

Submitted—X (Xtra) Y (Years) of Z (Zest) First Baptist Church Howe’s senior citizen group will have their monthly meeting on this Thursday, Feb. 10 at 10:30 in the church’s Fellowship Hall.

Following a brief business meeting, church missionary Doug Shelley will tell about the mission work he does on his many trips to New Mexico Navajo Reservation. He brings food, clothing, blankets, and always the gospel. He has many stories to share with us about this essential ministry. Then we’ll eat fried chicken which will be provided and whatever else everyone brings. Information about the Branson trip will be provided. Of course, there will be a lot of fellowshipping, so come join us, won’t you?