Mustangs escape Hudson in bi-district, 75-74

Jacorey Gilbert (5) banks one in against Lufkin Hudson defender T.C. Smith (24) in Tuesday's bi-district clash at Sam Houston State University. The Mustangs emerged with a 75-74 win and Gilbert finished the night with 23 points. The Mustangs face Hutto Friday at 6:30 p.m. at A&M Consolidated's Tiger Gym in College Station in the area round of the playoffs. Dave Lewis/Madisonville Meteor.

For the fourth consecutive time, the Madisonville Mustangs have been involved in a game decided by one point, something Coach Brian Thurmond said has never happened to one of his teams since he's been coaching.

For the second consecutive time, the Mustangs came out on top, this one over Lufkin Hudson, 75-74, in bi-district playoff competition. Madisonville (25-5) moves on to face the Hutto Hippos in Tiger Gym at A&M Consolidated in College Station at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

"It's a tribute to these kids," said Thurmond following their fourth game decided by one point. "We talked about it before the game. We've been tested, we've been through the wars, and it's all about heart, and these kids have got it. They're a heck of a team. We haven't played a team this good all year, and we're going to enjoy the ride. We're on a mission right now. We've got to go to work tomorrow. We've got a tough one Friday against Hutto. I can't say enough about these seniors. They're leading us right now."

In fact, it was senior guard Jacorey Gilbert who riddled the Hornet defense for 23 points, most of them in the second half, as the Mustangs stormed back from what at one point was an 11-point deficit midway through the second quarter.

At the half, the Hornets held a slim 38-34 lead, then came out in the third period trying to slow down the game. That proved to be their undoing as the Mustangs picked their double -and -triple-team defense apart with sharp passes in the lane to open teammates. As a team, Madisonville turned in 23 assists, enabling the Mustangs to build a 53-46 lead to start the fourth period.

With 5:46 left in the fourth, Brock Taylor hit a pair of free throws to give Madisonville it's largest lead of the night, 57-49, but Hudson wasn't about to fold.

With 5.9 seconds to play, and Madisonville leading, 75-74, Rob Nellums missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Hudson couldn't get out of its end of the court in the time remaining and the Mustangs left with the bi-district title.

Gilbert, who led the Mustangs in scoring, also had 5 assists and 3 rebounds. Senior Chris Young scored came off the bench to score 15 points, three of them on slams, and pulled down 12 rebounds. Sophomore Taylor stepped up with 10 points and 5 rebounds and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the foul line.

Senior Alonzo Whaley booked 8 points, had 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while Brandon Stubblefield, another senior, scored 7 points, had 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Junior Chris Whaley turned in 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal and Senior Rob Nellums scored 6 points, had 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Nelson Veliz, another senior, came off the bench to add 2 assists.