Ranger holds off Texans 76-73 in overtime Wednesday in Wolfforth

WOLFFORTH — South Plains would lead by as much as nine in the final five minutes of Wednesday's Region V quarterfinal matchup, but a late surge from top-seeded Ranger sent the contest into overtime, as the Rangers would knock down the game-winner with two seconds to play in OT to escape with a 76-73 victory at the Tiger Pit.  

Deadlocked at 43 all with just under 12 minutes to go, the Texans would rip off an 11-2 run capped by a two-handed dunk from sophomore Kalifa Sakho which gave SPC a 54-45 lead with 7:50 to play. Ranger would then trim the to just four, 58-54 on a free throw from Tayton Conerway with 3:32 remaining.

Ranger would then tie the game at 61 all with 1:09 left as MyKell Robinson dropped in a pair of free throws with just over a minute to go. With under 30 ticks reaming, South Plains put the ball into the hands of Christian Coleman, who slithered his way through a pair of defenders and converted at the bucket to get SPC back on top, 63-61 with 14 seconds to play.

Ranger would answer, as B.J. Comer drove down the middle of the paint and dropped in a layup to tie the game at 63 apiece and send the game into overtime. Ranger would jump out to a four point lead to begin the extra period, but South Plains would battle its way back to tie the game at 73 on a free throw from Ismail Habib, part of a three point play after converting at the rim while being fouled with 27 seconds remaining.

Ranger would get the final possession, as they put the ball into the hands of Cincere Scott, who bucketed a 3 from the left corner with two seconds to go. Habib would get a final look on the following possession, and would nearly tie the game as his final shot from 35 feet glanced off the front of the glass and rimmed out as time expired.

Habib would finish with a team-high 19 points over 42 minutes, dropping in seven of 19 shots from the field while also recording seven rebounds and three assists. Coleman finished with 17 points, three boards, and three blocked shots over 40 minutes, while Jaden Harris netted 13 points in 36 minutes.