Tiger sophomores defeat Jerome

The Mountain Home Tigers sophomore boys basketball team came close to a sweep but had to settle for a split in last week's games against Jerome and Middleton.

Mtn. Home 60

Jerome 55

The Mountain Home Tiger sophomores shot out to a big lead and held off Jerome in the fourth quarter for a 60-55 boys basketball win last Tuesday night in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium in Mountain Home.

Mountain Home went on a 12-0 run in the first quarter that helped them move out to a 19-6 lead after a quarter. It was 32-20 at the half and 41-26 Mountain Home after three. They stretched their lead to 20 points early in the fourth. Jerome went on a 29-14 run down the stretch, but it wasn't enough, as Mountain Home prevailed 60-55.

Brent Sexauer had a season-high 20 points to lead Mountain Home. James Simon added 13 points, Anthony Barboza netted nine, J.T. Cristobal,six, Mert Baysal four, and Ricky Castillo, Colton Zamora, Justin Connolly and Dakota Ramos all had two points.

Middleton 67

Mtn. Home 66

(OT)

In what could easily be described as one of the best high school basketball games at any level, the Mountain Home Tigers sophomores had their two-game win streak snapped as they came up short, 67-66, in overtime at Middleton last Friday night.

The game went back and forth all night, with Mountain Home down 19-17 after a quarter but up 39-35 at the half. The Tigers led throughout the third quarter, building up a 50-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

A 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter gave Middleton the lead with 5:27 left, but Mountain Home went on a 6-0 run to go up, 58-53, with 4 minutes left.

The Tigers failed to score the rest of the quarter, and Middleton missed two free throws that would have broken a 58-58 tie. The Tigers also had a couple shot opportunities that failed to drop and the game went to overtime.

The Tigers fell behind in overtime but managed to tie it at 61 and 63, and took a 65-63 lead on a basket by Colton Zamora with 1:34 left in overtime.

Middleton came down and scored to tie the game at 65-65. Colton Zamora was fouled with 24 seconds left and made one of two free throws to push the Tigers back in the lead, 66-65.

Middleton called a time out and came down and shot and missed, but was fouled on the rebound and sank both free throws with 4.2 seconds left.

Mountain Home called a time out and went for the last shot, but it failed to go in and Middleton edged the Tigers 67-66.

Brent Sexauer led the Tigers with 15 points. J.T. Cristobal and Mert Maysal both netted 11, Colton Zamora and James Simon each added eight, Dakota Ramos had seven, Anthony Barbosa three, Justin Connolly two and Ricky Castillo one.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.