'Hounds outpace Pace

SAN BENITO — In a game where both teams scored a combined 11 three-pointers, the final one proved to be the most crucial.

With 1:50 left, Oscar Gonzalez hit from beyond the arc, sending the San Benito Greyhounds ahead of the Brownsville Pace Vikings by two.

The ‘Hounds held on from there, winning 48-42 Friday night at the San Benito gym.

The win tightens the District 32-5A middle rankings, where San Benito maintains their fourth-place ranking (14-14, 4-7), while Pace holds at third (16-11, 6-5).

After falling behind 15-4 in the first period, Pace shut down San Benito’s scoring machine with a 7-0 run three-and-a-half minutes into the second quarter.

The ‘Hounds responded with a 4-0 run of their own, ending the first half in style with a scoop and finger roll layup by Cris Preciado with 7 seconds left to make it 23-15, San Benito.

Then the Nico Benavides rain of threes began. The Viking scored three long field goals almost in a row in the third quarter, and that production, which included two other field goals, helped Pace draw even and then take the lead by quarter’s end (35-33).

But the ‘Hounds rallied, despite committing turnovers and missing easy shots early in the last period.

Down 39-36 with 3:29 to go, Gonzalez connected on the first of his two saving-grace threes to even the score. The ‘Hounds pulled ahead 41-39 a minute later on an astute layup by Hugo Ramos, who delayed his shot under the basket as a Viking defender skyed overhead.

Pace’s Alex Quiroga put his team up by one with a three-pointer of his own 15 seconds later, but San Benito’s defense and Gonzalez’s clutch shot soon afterward secured the win.

Gonzalez ended the night as the ‘Hounds’ top scorer with 16 points, while Benavides led the Vikes with 15.