GONZALES APACHES

Apaches hold off Navarro 

3rd straight win moves Gonzales up tied for third

Posted

GONZALES -- It got close late in the game, but the Gonzales Apaches were able to hold off a Navarro comeback, winning 64-55 to move to 5-3 in District 30-4A.

The Panthers came within one before the Apaches, with some three-point shots by Brady Barfield and Diego Diaz de Leon, pulled away, ending the game on a 12-4 run.

“We find ways to win,” Alec Paramski said. “These past three games that we’ve won, our energy is so high. Our energy is what keeps us going right now. After the win, we all just want to keep climbing that standings in district, one game at a time.”

Navarro’s only lead of the night was an early 2-0 advantage that lasted merely 15 seconds before Diaz de Leon tied the game early. The Apaches would go on and take a lead that they’d keep for the rest of the game, going up as much as 16 points early in the third quarter.

“We’re just playing better as a team,” Paramski explained. “We’re taking care of the basketball, I know tonight isn’t the best example, but for the most part we’re taking smarter shots and we’re hitting them too. Second half of district, they know the kids that they’re playing with now and I just feel like they’re more comfortable as a team. They’re just knocking down shots.”

The Apaches scored from both down low and beyond the three-point arc, with points coming in from six different players including Diaz de Leon, Barfield, Xavier Aguayo, Jaydyn Lookabill, Will Knox and Arbreyon Dora.

“Xavier played well, he’s just overall great player, great ball handler, knows what to do with the ball, knocks down the threes, hit the floater,” Paramski said. “Then we got Diego who can knock down the three as well, as a big guy. Brady hit some big shots, some big threes toward the end, and we made our free throws toward the end that made our game.”

“Honestly, I would say it’s our overall team,” he continued. “They all played well.”

Aguayo led the team in scoring with 17 points, followed by Diaz de Leon with 13, Knox with 11 Lookabill and Barfield with 10 each and Dora with three.

With the win, the Apaches are now tied with Navarro at 5-3. Pleasanton remains on top with a 7-0 record, while La Vernia’s win over Cuero moved them to second place with a 5-2 record.

Gonzales travels to Poteet on Tuesday before hosting Pleasanton next Friday. Both games are scheduled to tip around 7:45 p.m.

Comments