Mustangs go into playoffs after thrilling district finale

After a thrilling 85-84 overtime win over Palestine Westwood here Tuesday, Feb. 12, the Madisonville Mustangs clinched sole possession of second place in District 19-3A and faced Lufkin Hudson in bi-district action Tuesday at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.

Game highlights will be available today on The Meteor's Web site, www.madisonville meteor.com.

Hudson emerged as the winner for the third place spot in District 20-3A after a tie-breaker game with Lufkin Central on Feb. 15.

Against Westwood, the Mustangs looked as if they would run the Panthers out of the gym in the first period Tuesday, holding a 27-13 lead after the initial period. By halftime, Madisonville held a 46-29 advantage, and then the Panthers showed up.

Westwood came out in the third period with a 14-0 run and with 5:25 left had cut Madisonville's lead to three points, 46-43. The Mustangs managed to hang on, but by the start of the final period, the score was 56-56.

Westwood took the lead early in the fourth, but the Mustangs recovered, and with 2:21 to play held a 71-65 advantage.

Westwood knotted the score with 20 seconds to play at 73-73 to force the overtime.

With 42 seconds to play in overtime, the score was tied at 84, and a foul sent Alonzo Whaley to the free throw line with 13.7 second to play and the score still tied. Whaley nailed one of the two shots he was awarded to make the difference and give the Mustangs the win.

Back on Jan. 25, the Panthers had knocked off the Mustangs, 78-71, in Palestine.

“Donald Ford stepped up and gave us a lot of leadership on the floor in the second half when the wheels were coming off,” said Coach Brian Thurmond later.

Jacorey Gilbert led in scoring with 18 points, followed by Brandon Stubblefield with 14. Whaley finished with 13 points, including the game winner, and Rob Nellums came in with 11 points.

Chris Young scored 9 points, Brock Taylor booked 8 points, and Chris Whaley added 7 points and led in rebounding with 8.

Mexia, with an 8-2 mark, won the district title, with the Mustangs second at 7-3.

Fairfield took third place in the district at 6-4, followed by Westwood (5-5) and Groesbeck and Palestine, both with 2-8 loop marks.