The Dos Pueblos boys basketball team brought its giving spirit to the Holiday Classic on Friday, committing countless turnovers in an opening-round 65-56 loss to Burroughs at J.R. Richards Gym.
“Once again, our turnovers really hurt us,” said DP head coach Joe Zamora, who guessed the Chargers gave up their possession at least 20 times, many in the final quarter when the Indians outscored Dos Pueblos 20-10.
Evan Munoz’s 24 points helped keep the Chargers in the ball game until the very end, however, until Burroughs was able to sink its free throws in crunch time to close out the tightly contested matchup.
“If you can make your free throws and not turn the ball over down the stretch when you’re ahead, then you should win,” explained Burroughs’ head coach Art Sullivan, whose team was led by Jonathan Nwachie’s 21 points.
In a game of streaks, the Chargers and Indians each won a quarter by seven points in the first half resulting in a 33-33 halftime tie.
Chris Morris added 15 for the Indians, who overcame a one-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
Fueled by two Munoz 3-pointers, Dos Pueblos used a 9-0 run to close out the third quarter for that one-point lead. At the end of the third and beginning of the fourth Munoz scored nine straight Charger points.
Despite Munoz’s big game, Sullivan was pleased with his team’s showing in the second half, largely due to the success of a 3-2 zone implemented after the first quarter.
“We did a good job of making it hard for them to get the ball to (Malik Heptot) and then we were able to cover the corners better,” noted Sullivan, whose team limited Dos Pueblos’ 6-foot-9 center to 10 points and forced the Chargers to live or die by the 3-point shot.
“We need to get touches to Malik,” admitted Zamora.
“Sometimes when you’re a young team, when you take two steps forward, then one step back, you gotta go two steps forward again.”
The Chargers (6-6) fall into the consolation bracket with a Saturday game against Northwood.
BURROUGHS 65, DOS PUEBLOS 56
Burroughs — Ward 6, Washington 4, Morris 15, Robinson 2, Jimenez 9, Safarians 3, McQuown 5, Nwachie 21.
Dos Pueblos — Miranda 2, Hamilton 9, Munoz 24, Heptot 10, Vickers 9, Mestas 2.
Burroughs 14 19 12 20 – 65
Dos Pueblos 21 12 13 10 – 56
3-pointers – B 7 (Nwachie 5, Jimenez, McQuown) DP 6 ( Munoz 5, Hamilton). Total Fouls – B 13, DP 18.
