Scott Wheeler (15) holds his ground against Cambridge’s Caden Houghtellling as he comes crashing through the lane in second half action Saturday. Wheeler’s perseverance paid off, drawing the offensive foul on Hoghtelling. Taylor Jablonski, left, follows Houghtelling’s dish off. (Johnson Publications photo)
While only six feet tall, Jack Bauerle, who comes in at 220 lbs., has been called upon all season to go against the opponents’ big man or men as the case may be. Here, Bauerle rips down one of his nine rebounds in Saturday’s win against Cambridge. (Johnson Publications photo)
Longhorns hold off Cambridge to hit .500 mark
Cambridge came into the Longhorn gym Friday 14-6, looking for another win. But they left 14-7 after the Longhorns hit five of seven fourth-quarter free throws to hold off the Trojans 56-52.
After opening up a 12-point, 33-21 lead to open the second half, the Longhorns saw that lead totally evaporate with 3:24 left in the third.
Cambridge knocked down two trey balls and added another the old fashioned way en route to a 13-0 run.
Thirty seconds later, Braden Space grabbed a rebound on the Trojan end and went coast-to-coast for the layup and the lead.
From there on, the Longhorns never trailed again but Cambridge made it interesting in the final four minutes of the fourth.
Leading by 10, 48-38, the Longhorns got a little careless with turnovers on two consecutive possessions. Cambridge took advantage with a pair of buckets to pull within six, 48-42 with 3:33 left.
Despite baskets from Scott Wheeler and Space, Cambridge kept answering. Things got real serious when the Trojans knocked down a trey to pull within five, 52-47, with 1:57 left.
The got the ball back and started attacking inside with their bruisers inside. A bucket with 1:07 left got them to within three.
After a timeout, the Longhorns came out in the three-man weave stall. Cambridge fouled to stop the clock and sent Space to the line, where he calmly dropped both ends of a one-and-one.
The Trojans knocked down another trey with :31.7 left to pull within two, 54-52.
They immediately fouled Taylor Jablonski on the inbounds pass. He too knocked down both sides of a one-and-one to put the Longhorns up 56-52.
Jack Bauerle ripped down his ninth rebound of the night off a missed Trojan shot and was fouled.
Even though he missed the front end of the one-and-one, Cambridge only had time for one shot, which bounded off the rim to preserve the Longhorns’ 56-52 win.
Coach Chris Bartels credited Bauerle with a great game. Despite having just two points, he gave Cambridge’s two big men all they wanted.
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