Cate battled back from a nine-point deficit to start the fourth quarter, but Villanova scored on offensive rebound in the final seconds and beat the Rams, 49-47, in a Frontier League boys basketball game on Wednesday in Ojai.
Nick Thomas led Cate’s comeback from a 40-31 deficit, scoring six of his game-high 16 points in the final quarter.
“He was unselfish with the ball and was a handful for the Villanova defense,” Cate coach Bryan Rodriguez said. “Nate Wilson also played big and scored 6 of his 12 points in the fourth.”
Clinton Hall and Thomas hit big shots to tie the score. Thomas made a step-back 3-pointer with 50 seconds and Clinton nailed a pull-up jumper to knot the score again
Villanova scored the game-winning shot off of a put back from an offensive rebound. The Rams missed a shot at the buzzer.
