Farmersville junior Amare Warren (22) had the game-clinching block in a 59-57 overtime win over Sunnyvale on Saturday. Photo by Elijah Kloepping / C&S Media
By David Wolman
With the final 10 seconds evaporating off the game clock and Farmersville clinging to a two-point lead, junior Amare Warren saw Sunnyvale junior Hudson Leonard out of the corner of his eye.
Leonard dribbled toward the basket, but Warren leaped into the air and blocked the shot attempt. The Farmers then ran out the remaining time to earn a 59-57 overtime victory at Sunnyvale on Saturday. It was the 13th straight win for Farmersville (21-1 overall, 1-0 District 13-4A), which is ranked No. 24 in the latest Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 4A state poll.
“(Leonard) had it, but Amare came out of nowhere,” head coach Kingsley Akinwole said. “It was a volleyball-like spike. It was one of the biggest plays that I’ve ever seen in basketball. I’ve never seen a blocked shot like that in that situation.”
Farmersville overcame a double-digit deficit to win the game.
“At one point, we were down 15 or 16 points,” Akinwole said. “We started off slow, trying to find our rhythm. Then we found some life. We hit a couple of big 3s that got us going. Marquis Oshodi had a big 3. Then we got a spark from Devin Swain Jr., got a spark from Tavian Smith.”
Smith posted one of the biggest games of his high school career, finishing with 24 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, along with nine rebounds and four steals.
“Him taking control of the game as a sophomore in one of the biggest games of the year showed how much he has matured throughout the season and gained trust,” Akinwole said. “With him coming from football, he wasn’t really with us throughout the offseason. But he’s continuing to get better and better. There are not too many sophomores who can do what he has done. I can see him getting Sophomore of the Year in our district.”
Swain Jr. also delivered a productive all-around game, contributing 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Oshodi added 10 points in the win.
Akinwole said being in peak physical shape played a key role in the comeback victory.
“The way that we play is that we try to beat you with our speed, with our physicality,” he said. “It’s a huge testament to our strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Briones. It showed the whole second half. We were the team that was more in shape.”
Farmersville will return to Farmersville Arena on Friday for a home game against district rival Caddo Mills. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
0 Comments