TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -
Owen Sanchez hit a three-pointer from the left corner as time expired Friday night to give the Sahuaro Cougars a 62-60 victory over the Salpointe Catholic Lancers.
The Cougars (6-2) won the game after a relentless Lancers defense forced them to take consecutive timeouts while in-bounding the ball in order to avoid a five-second call.
It appeared Sahuaro had the game in hand with just under two minute to play, but four straight missed free throws allowed the Lancers to re-take the lead when Thomas McEvoy nailed a three-pointer from the top of the arc with 18 seconds to play.
McEvoy finished with 13 points. Jaylyn Juan added 12 for the Lancers (5-2).
Salpointe controlled the early stages of the game building a 27-15 lead early in the second quarter but the Cougars turned up the defense and were able to cut that deficit to five by the half (32-27).
Sahuaro came out blazing in the third quarter. The Cougars behind the inside play of junior forward Arthur Gibson and outside shooting of junior guard James Molina went on a 14-4 run to take a 41-36 lead.
Molina led all scorers with 22 points. Gibson scored 16 and was dominant on the boards.
Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
