The Magazine Rattlers versus the Hector Wildcats. Both schools’ athletic programs have decades of history playing against each other in every sport. Neither the Rattlers nor Wildcats are ever guaranteed a win when they face off and boy howdy do they put on a show. So, it’s easy to believe that a Hector versus Magazine basketball game in Round2 of the 2A-4 District Tournament would be a doozy. With a shot at the District Title and an automatic bid to the 2A regional Tournament on the line, no one had to think it would be a great game, they already knew it.
Hector showed their claws right from the tip off with an on target three-pointer then forced Magazine to call a very early time out with a powerful defensive push. Magazine rolled in a layup to answer, but the Wildcats drilled in another three for good measure. That trend was pretty much set in stone in the first quarter as Hector would sink a three-point shot for each Magazine board bucket giving the Wildcats a 14-7 lead with 2:24 left in the first quarter. Neither Magazine nor Hector seemed to want to deviate from their game plan, but it was Hector who executed their plan better as the first quarter ended with the Wildcats up 16-9 over the Rattlers.
As the second quarter began, Magazine began to see success in their “keep it simple” game plan as the Rattlers closed Hectors lead to 18-17 with short shots and board buckets. The Rattlers patience finally paid off as they tied the game at 18-18 on a free throw with 3:35 left in the quarter. Hector would quickly regain the lead off of a free throw and a put back to set up a 21-18 lead. Magazine again came close to getting the lead off of a layup but couldn’t pull past Hectors vicious defense in the paint. The Wildcats held up well against every strike Magazine took at getting points as the teams went into halftime with Hector narrowly leading Magazine 22-20.
The third quarter was what defensive fans dream as both teams played lights out across from the ball. Turnovers, rebounds, and blocked shots ruled the game as Magazine held Hector to just seven points and Hector kept Magazine to only six points in the quarter. The team’s defensive showcase ended the third quarter with only a combined 15 points between the two and a 29-26 Hector lead. With defense being the name of the game up to that point, it would now come down to whose offense could get their gears going in the fourth and final quarter.
Hector was first to put up points with a pair of free throws as Magazine began to get sloppy with fouls. Both teams were able to get an opening to sink a three-point shot each after that to set the score at 33-29 in the Wildcats favor with 5:03 left in the game. Magazine laid in a chip shot, but Hector mirrored that with a powerful layup of their own. The Wildcats then went wild with three-pointers to build on their lead. Magazine on the other hand would not lay down without striking out with a couple of threes of their own to bring the game to a 41-38 lead with 1:20 left in the final quarter. Although it was one heck of a game by both teams, it was Hector who pulled away with a 47-40 victory over Magazine to advance to Round3 of the 2A-4 District Tournament.
The hard-fought victory gives Hector not only the bump up to Round3 of the 2A-4 District Tournament, but also puts them automatically in the 2A Regional Tournament. The Wildcats main focus though will be earning a shot at the 2A-4 District Championship. To obtain that goal, they will have to go through the number one seeded Lavaca Golden Arrows. The game between Hector and Lavaca will be held on Thursday, February 16th at 5:30pm at the Mansfield High School gymnasium and is sure to be a barn burner.
