There is a lot on the line for the Yuma High School boys basketball team as it closes out 3A Patriot League play.
“These next three are just huge,” coach Dave Sheffield said. “This end of season schedule is really stacked.”
Yuma entered this past Tuesday’s game at Strasburg ranked No. 4 in the CHSAA 3A Selection & Seeding Index. They were 16-1 and alone in first place in the 3A Patriot with a 7-0 mark.
However, Strasburg was No. 2 in the Index, also 16-1 and 6-1 in league play.
After this past Tuesday, the Outlaws travel to Windsor Charter Academy on Friday. Windsor Charter entered this week 14-4 overall, 7-1 in league, and No. 5 in the Index. They close out 3A Patriot play Tuesday when they host Resurrection Christian, which entered this week No. 7 in the Index sitting at 12-5, 5-2. The Cougars won the 3A title last year.
“We just have to keep pushing through the Patriot schedule,” Sheffield said.
The Outlaws stayed perfect in league play with an exciting 58-56 overtime win over Wiggins, last Friday in The Pit. The Tigers are No. 9 in the Index.
As of now the Outlaws are in line to host one or two games in the regular-season ending Patriot League Tournament, which begins next Friday, February 20.
It was rough going for much of last Friday’s game with Wiggins. The Tigers popped for 17 points in the second quarter to build a five-point lead, 26-21. The Outlaws scored 17 themselves in the third quarter to pull into the lead by two, 38-36.
Neither team could do much offensively in the fourth. Yuma twice fell behind before tying it again. The Outlaws had the last shot in regulation but could not convert, leading to overtime with the teams tied at 44.
The extra session ended up being a barnburner as the teams combined for 26 points. Neither team led by more than one basket, and once again the Outlaws played for the last shot. Senior Brody Sheffield, who had to change his jersey during an overtime timeout due to blood, dribbled down the clock, got a screen well above the three-point line, went to his right and drained an elbow jumper before the buzzer for the win.
“We didn’t shoot incredibly well, but we figured out another way to finish a game,” coach Sheffield said.
Yuma shot 38 percent from the floor, while the Tigers shot 43 percent, making five more baskets. However, the Outlaws outscored the visitors 17-5 at the charity stripe, taking 20 more free throws.
Sheffield finished with 26 points and eight rebounds, Alex Pensado 17 points and six deflections, Jose Mario Ross came off the bench to hit some big baskets in the second half, finishing with nine points and three steals, David Covarrubias six points and three rebounds, and Reyli Trejo two points, five rebounds and four assists.
The Outlaws traveled to Strasburg this past Tuesday for another key league showdown. They scored the game’s first seven points, but Strasburg answered with an 8-0 run. Yuma fell behind 36-26 in the second quarter, but cut it to 38-32 by halftime. However, the Indians kept rolling from deep, pushing the lead to 60-44 at the end of the third.
Yuma cut a 21-point deficit to 12 in the fourth, but Strasburg quickly increased its lead again, sending Yuma home with a 77-59 loss.
The Outlaws dropped to 16-2, 7-1.
Sheffield had 29 points, Pensado 13, Trejo five, Jalen Rose five, Ross five and Covarrubias two.